The visitors may have finished the game with 10 men and Boro midfielder Scott Phillips may have missed a late penalty, but on balance of play, Armthorpe should have been out of sight.

The game was a damp squib after the thrills and spills of Saturday's derby with Brid, and Boro's performance certainly matched up.

By the time they had taken the lead just after the half-hour, Armthorpe could have been at least three goals to the good, a trend that continued in the second half.

On the attacking front only Joel Hartley came out of the game with credit, as he caused problems galore down the right hand side.

His contribution started from the very beginning of the game, as he tore into Armthorpe full-back Ian Farmley.

The play soon switched to the other end though, and after a horrible mix-up in the Boro defence, a wide open Liam Hardy sliced wide with only Arran Reid to beat.

Boro did offer glimpses of quality, as some brilliance from Ryan Blott on the right picked out the chest of Richard Medcalf in the box, but his neat volley was comfortably saved.

Armthorpe dangerman Bruno Holden then took centre stage, firing wide, seeing an effort tipped away by Reid and then planting his header from close range over the bar.

It was against the run of play when Boro took the advantage after 34 minutes. As Medcalf was crudely hauled back by the clearly wound-up Farmley in the box.

Farmley was swiftly replaced by his boss, but Scott Phillips stepped up to punish the error.

It took just five minutes for the reply though, with some woeful defending leading to James Walker whipping home from the edge of the box.

Armthorpe could have moved ahead just minutes into the new period, as Dave Hartas cleared off the line Holden brought a save out of Reid and then tested the wall behind the goal with a powerful free-kick.

Boro were lacking a creative spark in attack, though sub Joe Connor did dance through a number of challenges with some silky skills, his poor finish didn't match the run.

Just after the hour Holden thought that he had edged the visitors ahead, but after running ragged Craig Evans for the umpteenth time, his shot struck the inside of the post and bounced away.

On a rare attack, Boro could and probably should have snatched the points.

Hartley picked out Blott in and box and his first time shot seemed to be handled on the line. The referee showed a straight red to David Buck and everyone settled back to admire the dead-eyed penalty taking skills of Phillips.

His sights were slightly out though and his kick rattled the outside of the post instead of bulging the net for a second time.

Phillips could have made amends in the final seconds, but after a far-post header from Hogg, the midfielder encapsulated Boro's display when he nodded over from six yards.