RADCLIFFE Borough goalkeeper Matty Johnson saved a last-minute penalty to secure a 1-1 draw against at play-off chasers Clitheroe.

Captain Bradley Carroll put the home side in front after the break with a crisp strike from the edge of the box.

But Boro fought back and levelled through a penalty of their own from Abou Sonogo.

They were then denied the chance to win it at the death when Graham Roberts felled Raul Correia as he raced through on goal.

Roberts, who was the last man, was sent off, but 10-man Clitheroe almost provided a sting in the tail after earning a spot kick in stoppage time.

Goal hero Carroll stepped up but he became the villain as Johnson pulled off a low save down to his right.

"It was a stunning save by Matty," said manager Bill Prendergast.

"We all thought he would save it, which shows our confidence in him and how good a game he actually had."

Boro midfielder Elliot Rokka set the tone for what was a breathless game when he rattled the bar with a powerful 25-yard shot in only the fifth minute.

Frank Van Gils converted the rebound but he was ruled off side and the celebrations were cut short.

Clitheroe's Dmitri Tuanzebe was a constant threat, however, and the front man quickly responded by setting up strike partner Alex Newby with a chance but Johnson pulled off a great save after coming off his line to close down the angles.

Roberts tested Johnson again on 34 minutes with a clever free kick that the stopper did well to palm away.

And there were chances at both ends in the closing stages of the first half when Lassana Nalatche's blazed a shot over from five yards after a Rokka corner and Johnson blocked a Newby effort from close range.

The high tempo continued in the second half as both sides did their best to break the deadlock.

It took a moment of real class from Carroll, who tried his luck after finding space on the edge of the box and crashed in a shot off the underside of the bar, which the referee rule had crossed the line.

Boro responded in good fashion, as Clitheroe stopper did well to keep out Rokka's free kick.

Sonogo made a difference for the visitors after coming on off the bench, driving into the penalty area before eventually winning a penalty after being brought down.

And the substitute striker blasted in his second spot kick in as many games.

Boro's equaliser set up a frantic finale and it looked like Correia would settle it in the 88th minute as he appeared to go through one-on-one with the Clitheroe keeper before Roberts hacked him back.

Rokka failed to test the keeper from the resultant free kick, firing wide, and Boro were caught napping from a quick throw-in moments later that led to a rash challenge in the box.

But Johnson was equal to the challenge, helping Boro secure their fifth point away from home, leaving them in 16th place in the Evo-Stik First Division North table.

And Prendergast had no complaints following the hard-earned point, praising the referee after awarding a penalty for either side and ruling out a Boro goal for offside.

"I thought the officials did really well with the game today," he said. "There were some hard calls but I thought they got all the major decisions right.

"I think coming away with a point from a hard place like this is a good result, we would have liked the win of course but I am happy because we are getting better."