Atherton Collieries were denied a shock win at the Neuven Stadium on Tuesday after two late Radcliffe goals meant it ended honours even at 2-2.

Sidi Fofana and Nathan Caine both struck for the Colls, while Jordan Hulme and Brad Jackson netted for Boro in the NPL Premier Division clash.

Neither team managed to gain early control, bar an early chance for the Colls, as Jordan Scanlon fizzed a low ball into the area which was deflected towards Mateusz Hewelt’s goal but kept out by the Radcliffe man.

Despite Radcliffe gradually gaining the upper hand, it was the Colls who scored first. A Luke Thompson free-kick was fired low into the area, a deflection taking the ball into the control of Fofana who took a touch before spinning the ball into the top-right corner with just over 20 minutes on the clock.

Little was made of Radcliffe’s pressure before a ball smashed across the right-hand side of the area was met by Jordan Hulme, who could not keep his effort on target as it flew just wide of Tom Donaghy’s far post.

As half time came and went, some astute Colls defending kept the lead intact with only one true chance for the Boro as a quick Luca Navarro jumped a sloppy Colls pass, only to see his shot sail high and wide of Donaghy’s upright.

A continuation of Radcliffe pressure pulled their defence line higher and Colls capitalised. Captain Lewis Mansell made his way down the right-hand side before sliding a perfect ball into the path of an onrushing Caine, who stroked the ball into the corner to double the visitors’ lead with just six minutes left to play.

This second goal awakened league leaders Radcliffe and just three minutes later, a Nicky Adams corner was turned home by Hulme who managed to get free of his marker a deftly place the ball past Donaghy in the Colls goal.

The referee signalled for eight minutes of added time, but it would be in the 113th minute when a long, floated ball would be flicked on by substitute Ewan Bange for Brad Jackson to hammer home a thunderous volley into the roof of the net for the hosts, denying a dejected Colls a monumental upset with the final kick of the game.