RADCLIFFE Borough earned a crucial point in their battle to avoid the drop against Lincoln, but it should have been three.

Livewire striker Sam Mullarkey scored in the last minute to secure a point for the visitors, after Boro had stormed back from 2-1 down to take the lead with just minutes remaining.

Boro were the better side in the first half, and got their rewards when Ian Fitzpatrick slotted home after Lee Hendley's shot had been parried by Mariano Ziccardi in the Lincoln goal.

However, the lead did not last long as Giovanni Carchedi restored parity with a predatory finish inside the box.

Fitzpatrick and Hendley caused the Lincoln back-line all sorts of problems with their pace and trickery, but Lincoln had the most clear-cut chances and Gary Walters and Sam Mullarkey should have done better when put clean through.

A reluctance to shoot when in goal-scoring positions was looking to be the downfall of Lincoln at one stage as chance after chance went begging.

Sam Wilkinson brought a save from Tim Dittmer on the stroke of half-time, but the new Boro keeper proved equal to the effort and ensured the teams turned level.

Lincoln took an early second half lead through Mullarkey, before the fog descended and made the game something of a lottery. The match should really have been abandoned at this point, but the referee played on and it meant the goalkeeper's had trouble picking out any shots from outside the area.

Lee Hendley restored parity with a mis-timed shot, before Jamie Miller put his side into the lead with a clinical finish from a goal-mouth scramble.

Fitzpatrick should have teeed up Boro's winner, but he elected to shoot, rather than pass to one of his fellow unmarked forwards, and Lincoln made him pay almost immediately.

A late break proved fruitful for Lincoln when Mullarkey slotted home to earn his side a draw.