A REPEAT showing of Scarborough's late, late show preserved the Division Three club's two month unbeaten McCain Stadium record and stabilised the Seasiders in fourth spot.

Neil Campbell glanced in his sixth goal of the season from an 84th minute corner to earn a 1-1 draw with visitors Colchester United, mirroring Jamie Mitchell's overdue leveller at Brighton the previous week.

A second point prised from the jaws of defeat was indicative of a weakened Boro side's determination against more robust opposition.

Missing were injury victims Ian Snodin, Paul Conway and Jason Rockett, plus suspended duo goalkeeper Andy Rhodes and Michael McElhatton.

Those absentees left the Seasiders short of a goalkeeper and an entire midfield but in custodian Nicky Buxton and a centre-field trio of Troy Bennett, Liam Robinson and Steve Brodie the hosts found ample replacements.

Buxton, who began his Football League career with an horrendous gaffe against Swansea City, made a competent, confident return and produced the save of the match with his one-handed stop from Neil Gregory.

The perpetual back-tracking of Robinson ensured his side were not overrun by Colchester's five middle men, while Troy Bennett conjured a string of dangerous set pieces.

Indeed Scarborough's chief first half chance stemmed from a Bennett corner, drilled in for Boro's other Bennett, Gary, to force a flying save from 'keeper Carl Emberson.

United, meanwhile, were only prevented from taking a 45 second lead by Paul Heckingbottom's deflection on Gregory's shot.

However, the Seasiders' left-back had to be rescued by Brodie's brilliant saving tackle on Mark Sale after an unsuccessful lunge at Gregory's centre.

First period parity did not linger long into the second half as veteran Steve Whitton found the corner of Buxton's net from Nicky Haydon's left wing cross.

But Boro seemed stirred into more positive action following the goal and five minutes later Troy Bennett's arcing free kick was kept out by the finger tips of Emberson.

On the hour, the same Bennett hooked in a great cross from the bye-line where first Jamie Mitchell and then Campbell failed to muster a shot, before Gareth Williams skewed an effort wide.

Even a rash of substitutions from manager Mick Wadsworth seemed unable to rescue the situation until Bennett's tenth flag kick found Campbell at the near post, and his flick left the ball nestling in the opposite corner of the net.

Said Boro Wadsworth: "If we had lost that game it would have been a very unfair result. I think we dominated most of the game. We had a lot of possession but have not created enough.

"The equaliser was well worked, it was a super corner and an excellent header. I am more satisfied with a point than losing but you want to win your home games."

Colin Sutherland, replaced by Ben Worrall immediately prior to the Boro goal, was taken to hospital suffering from blurred vision after receiving a blow to the head.

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