BATTLING Scarborough grabbed a precious point in their battle to avoid the drop in Nationwide North when they held second-place Kettering Town 1-1 at the McCain Stadium last night.

The Poppies, who have just appointed Ron Atkinson as director of football, took a controversial lead in the third minute of first-half injury time.

Boro's Lee Cartwright appeared to be fouled in the build-up to the Kettering goal which was smartly tucked away by Craig Westcarr.

However, seconds after the start of the second period, Boro were level when Ryan Blott netted at the second attempt for his fifth goal of the season.

Minutes later the pendulum swung in Boro's favour when Jean-Paul Marna was sent off for kicking out at Darren Thornton.

Although Boro pressed hard for a winner it needed a superb tackle by Mark Hotte to deny Westcarr a winner in injury time.

The result leaves Boro in the bottom two but will have taken enough out of the game to think they can beat Harrogate Town in the North Yorkshire derby at Wetherby Road on Saturday.

Tomorrow, Scarborough's Under-19 side take on Selby Town at the McCain Stadium in the Northern Youth Alliance (7.45pm).

Harrogate Town head to neighbours Harrogate Railway tonight in the quarter-finals of the West Riding County Cup (7.45pm).