Nuneaton Town and Atherstone Town both failed to take advantage of their game in hand over Southern League Midlands Division leaders Leamington.

The second and third-placed teams drew 2-2 at Liberty Way on Tuesday.

Gez Murphy gave Boro a first-half lead only to see the Adders' Tom Bates turn the game on its head with a brace.

But the home side rescued a point thanks to David Blenkinsopp to move six points behind Brakes with six games left to play.

Murphy opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark, the striker making the most of Rob Oddy's half-cleared cross.

The game livened up after the interval and the second half was 17 minutes old when the visitors were awarded a penalty after Guy Hadland handled in his area, Bates duly dispatching from 12 yards.

And it was midfielder Bates with another dead-ball special on 79 who gave Atherstone the lead, curling in a 25-yard free-kick.

But Nuneaton responded swiftly through Blenkinsopp and Rob Foster could have nicked all three points for Boro but his late effort came back off a post.

The result leaves Adders one point behind Nuneaton in third place.

Nuneaton manager Kevin Wilkin:

"I'm a bit disappointed we didn't win the game to be honest.

"We had a couple of lapses of concentration. I couldn't really see them scoring in open play against us.

"I thought whatever they threw at us, by and large, we've defended really well."

Atherstone manager Jimmy Ginnelly:

"I feel as though we've lost the game. I might be biased because I'm the manager of Atherstone but I think we put the pressure on in the second half.

"Equalise and you think you'll take the draw and when we got in front I thought we've won this, these are gone.

"I'm disappointed with the referee because I think it's a foul on the goalkeeper."

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