diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 007e4ffc..2bb07385 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ ver. 0.10.6-dev (20??/??/??) - development edition
 ### New Features
 
 ### Enhancements
+* introduced new prefix `{UNB}` for `datepattern` to disable word boundaries in regex;
+* datetemplate: improved anchor detection for capturing groups `(^...)`;
+* performance optimization of `datepattern` (better search algorithm in datedetector, especially for single template);
 
 
 ver. 0.10.5 (2020/01/10) - deserve-more-respect-a-jedis-weapon-must
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py b/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py
index 5942e3e0..0a6451be 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py
@@ -337,65 +337,76 @@ class DateDetector(object):
 		# if no templates specified - default templates should be used:
 		if not len(self.__templates):
 			self.addDefaultTemplate()
-		logSys.log(logLevel-1, "try to match time for line: %.120s", line)
-		match = None
+		log = logSys.log if logSys.getEffectiveLevel() <= logLevel else lambda *args: None
+		log(logLevel-1, "try to match time for line: %.120s", line)
+
 		# first try to use last template with same start/end position:
+		match = None
+		found = None, 0x7fffffff, 0x7fffffff, -1
 		ignoreBySearch = 0x7fffffff
 		i = self.__lastTemplIdx
 		if i < len(self.__templates):
 			ddtempl = self.__templates[i]
 			template = ddtempl.template
 			if template.flags & (DateTemplate.LINE_BEGIN|DateTemplate.LINE_END):
-				if logSys.getEffectiveLevel() <= logLevel-1: # pragma: no cover - very-heavy debug
-					logSys.log(logLevel-1, "  try to match last anchored template #%02i ...", i)
+				log(logLevel-1, "  try to match last anchored template #%02i ...", i)
 				match = template.matchDate(line)
 				ignoreBySearch = i
 			else:
 				distance, endpos = self.__lastPos[0], self.__lastEndPos[0]
-				if logSys.getEffectiveLevel() <= logLevel-1:
-					logSys.log(logLevel-1, "  try to match last template #%02i (from %r to %r): ...%r==%r %s %r==%r...",
-						i, distance, endpos, 
-						line[distance-1:distance], self.__lastPos[1],
-						line[distance:endpos],
-						line[endpos:endpos+1], self.__lastEndPos[1])
-				# check same boundaries left/right, otherwise possible collision/pattern switch:
-				if (line[distance-1:distance] == self.__lastPos[1] and 
-						line[endpos:endpos+1] == self.__lastEndPos[1]
-				):
+				log(logLevel-1, "  try to match last template #%02i (from %r to %r): ...%r==%r %s %r==%r...",
+					i, distance, endpos,
+					line[distance-1:distance], self.__lastPos[1],
+					line[distance:endpos],
+					line[endpos:endpos+1], self.__lastEndPos[2])
+				# check same boundaries left/right, outside fully equal, inside only if not alnum (e. g. bound RE
+				# with space or some special char), otherwise possible collision/pattern switch:
+				if ((
+					line[distance-1:distance] == self.__lastPos[1] or
+						(line[distance] == self.__lastPos[2] and not self.__lastPos[2].isalnum())
+					) and (
+					line[endpos:endpos+1] == self.__lastEndPos[2] or
+						(line[endpos-1] == self.__lastEndPos[1] and not self.__lastEndPos[1].isalnum())
+				)):
+					# search in line part only:
+					log(logLevel-1, "  boundaries are correct, search in part %r", line[distance:endpos])
 					match = template.matchDate(line, distance, endpos)
+				else:
+					log(logLevel-1, "  boundaries show conflict, try whole search")
+					match = template.matchDate(line)
+					ignoreBySearch = i
 			if match:
 				distance = match.start()
 				endpos = match.end()
 				# if different position, possible collision/pattern switch:
 				if (
+					len(self.__templates) == 1 or # single template:
 					template.flags & (DateTemplate.LINE_BEGIN|DateTemplate.LINE_END) or 
 					(distance == self.__lastPos[0] and endpos == self.__lastEndPos[0])
 				):
-					logSys.log(logLevel, "  matched last time template #%02i", i)
+					log(logLevel, "  matched last time template #%02i", i)
 				else:
-					logSys.log(logLevel, "  ** last pattern collision - pattern change, search ...")
+					log(logLevel, "  ** last pattern collision - pattern change, reserve & search ...")
+					found = match, distance, endpos, i; # save current best alternative
 					match = None
 			else:
-				logSys.log(logLevel, "  ** last pattern not found - pattern change, search ...")
+				log(logLevel, "  ** last pattern not found - pattern change, search ...")
 		# search template and better match:
 		if not match:
-			logSys.log(logLevel, " search template (%i) ...", len(self.__templates))
-			found = None, 0x7fffffff, 0x7fffffff, -1
+			log(logLevel, " search template (%i) ...", len(self.__templates))
 			i = 0
 			for ddtempl in self.__templates:
-				if logSys.getEffectiveLevel() <= logLevel-1:
-					logSys.log(logLevel-1, "  try template #%02i: %s", i, ddtempl.name)
 				if i == ignoreBySearch:
 					i += 1
 					continue
+				log(logLevel-1, "  try template #%02i: %s", i, ddtempl.name)
 				template = ddtempl.template
 				match = template.matchDate(line)
 				if match:
 					distance = match.start()
 					endpos = match.end()
-					if logSys.getEffectiveLevel() <= logLevel:
-						logSys.log(logLevel, "  matched time template #%02i (at %r <= %r, %r) %s",
-							i, distance, ddtempl.distance, self.__lastPos[0], template.name)
+					log(logLevel, "  matched time template #%02i (at %r <= %r, %r) %s",
+						i, distance, ddtempl.distance, self.__lastPos[0], template.name)
 					## last (or single) template - fast stop:
 					if i+1 >= len(self.__templates):
 						break
@@ -408,7 +419,7 @@ class DateDetector(object):
 					## [grave] if distance changed, possible date-match was found somewhere 
 					## in body of message, so save this template, and search further:
 					if distance > ddtempl.distance or distance > self.__lastPos[0]:
-						logSys.log(logLevel, "  ** distance collision - pattern change, reserve")
+						log(logLevel, "  ** distance collision - pattern change, reserve")
 						## shortest of both:
 						if distance < found[1]:
 							found = match, distance, endpos, i
@@ -422,7 +433,7 @@ class DateDetector(object):
 			# check other template was found (use this one with shortest distance):
 			if not match and found[0]:
 				match, distance, endpos, i = found
-				logSys.log(logLevel, "  use best time template #%02i", i)
+				log(logLevel, "  use best time template #%02i", i)
 				ddtempl = self.__templates[i]
 				template = ddtempl.template
 		# we've winner, incr hits, set distance, usage, reorder, etc:
@@ -432,8 +443,8 @@ class DateDetector(object):
 			ddtempl.distance = distance
 			if self.__firstUnused == i:
 				self.__firstUnused += 1
-			self.__lastPos = distance, line[distance-1:distance]
-			self.__lastEndPos = endpos, line[endpos:endpos+1]
+			self.__lastPos = distance, line[distance-1:distance], line[distance]
+			self.__lastEndPos = endpos, line[endpos-1], line[endpos:endpos+1]
 			# if not first - try to reorder current template (bubble up), they will be not sorted anymore:
 			if i and i != self.__lastTemplIdx:
 				i = self._reorderTemplate(i)
@@ -442,7 +453,7 @@ class DateDetector(object):
 			return (match, template)
 
 		# not found:
-		logSys.log(logLevel, " no template.")
+		log(logLevel, " no template.")
 		return (None, None)
 
 	@property
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/datetemplate.py b/fail2ban/server/datetemplate.py
index 973a8a51..a198e4ed 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/datetemplate.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/datetemplate.py
@@ -36,15 +36,16 @@ logSys = getLogger(__name__)
 RE_GROUPED = re.compile(r'(?<!(?:\(\?))(?<!\\)\((?!\?)')
 RE_GROUP = ( re.compile(r'^((?:\(\?\w+\))?\^?(?:\(\?\w+\))?)(.*?)(\$?)$'), r"\1(\2)\3" )
 
+RE_EXLINE_NO_BOUNDS = re.compile(r'^\{UNB\}')
 RE_EXLINE_BOUND_BEG = re.compile(r'^\{\^LN-BEG\}')
-RE_EXSANC_BOUND_BEG = re.compile(r'^\(\?:\^\|\\b\|\\W\)')
+RE_EXSANC_BOUND_BEG = re.compile(r'^\((?:\?:)?\^\|\\b\|\\W\)')
 RE_EXEANC_BOUND_BEG = re.compile(r'\(\?=\\b\|\\W\|\$\)$')
-RE_NO_WRD_BOUND_BEG = re.compile(r'^\(*(?:\(\?\w+\))?(?:\^|\(*\*\*|\(\?:\^)')
+RE_NO_WRD_BOUND_BEG = re.compile(r'^\(*(?:\(\?\w+\))?(?:\^|\(*\*\*|\((?:\?:)?\^)')
 RE_NO_WRD_BOUND_END = re.compile(r'(?<!\\)(?:\$\)?|\\b|\\s|\*\*\)*)$')
 RE_DEL_WRD_BOUNDS = ( re.compile(r'^\(*(?:\(\?\w+\))?\(*\*\*|(?<!\\)\*\*\)*$'), 
 	                    lambda m: m.group().replace('**', '') )
 
-RE_LINE_BOUND_BEG = re.compile(r'^(?:\(\?\w+\))?(?:\^|\(\?:\^(?!\|))')
+RE_LINE_BOUND_BEG = re.compile(r'^(?:\(\?\w+\))?(?:\^|\((?:\?:)?\^(?!\|))')
 RE_LINE_BOUND_END = re.compile(r'(?<![\\\|])(?:\$\)?)$')
 
 RE_ALPHA_PATTERN = re.compile(r'(?<!\%)\%[aAbBpc]')
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ class DateTemplate(object):
 		if boundBegin:
 			self.flags |= DateTemplate.WORD_BEGIN if wordBegin != 'start' else DateTemplate.LINE_BEGIN
 			if wordBegin != 'start':
-				regex = r'(?:^|\b|\W)' + regex
+				regex = r'(?=^|\b|\W)' + regex
 			else:
 				regex = r"^(?:\W{0,2})?" + regex
 				if not self.name.startswith('{^LN-BEG}'):
@@ -128,8 +129,10 @@ class DateTemplate(object):
 		if boundEnd:
 			self.flags |= DateTemplate.WORD_END
 			regex += r'(?=\b|\W|$)'
-		if RE_LINE_BOUND_BEG.search(regex): self.flags |= DateTemplate.LINE_BEGIN
-		if RE_LINE_BOUND_END.search(regex): self.flags |= DateTemplate.LINE_END
+		if not (self.flags & DateTemplate.LINE_BEGIN) and RE_LINE_BOUND_BEG.search(regex):
+			self.flags |= DateTemplate.LINE_BEGIN
+		if not (self.flags & DateTemplate.LINE_END) and RE_LINE_BOUND_END.search(regex):
+			self.flags |= DateTemplate.LINE_END
 		# remove possible special pattern "**" in front and end of regex:
 		regex = RE_DEL_WRD_BOUNDS[0].sub(RE_DEL_WRD_BOUNDS[1], regex)
 		self._regex = regex
@@ -188,7 +191,7 @@ class DateTemplate(object):
 	def unboundPattern(pattern):
 		return RE_EXEANC_BOUND_BEG.sub('',
 			RE_EXSANC_BOUND_BEG.sub('',
-				RE_EXLINE_BOUND_BEG.sub('', pattern)
+				RE_EXLINE_BOUND_BEG.sub('', RE_EXLINE_NO_BOUNDS.sub('', pattern))
 			)
 		)
 
@@ -297,6 +300,10 @@ class DatePatternRegex(DateTemplate):
 	def setRegex(self, pattern, wordBegin=True, wordEnd=True):
 		# original pattern:
 		self._pattern = pattern
+		# if unbound signalled - reset boundaries left and right:
+		if RE_EXLINE_NO_BOUNDS.search(pattern):
+			pattern = RE_EXLINE_NO_BOUNDS.sub('', pattern)
+			wordBegin = wordEnd = False
 		# if explicit given {^LN-BEG} - remove it from pattern and set 'start' in wordBegin:
 		if wordBegin and RE_EXLINE_BOUND_BEG.search(pattern):
 			pattern = RE_EXLINE_BOUND_BEG.sub('', pattern)
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py
index 458f76ef..d6370fc4 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py
@@ -330,6 +330,27 @@ class DateDetectorTest(LogCaptureTestCase):
 		dt = '2005 Jun 03'; self.assertEqual(t.matchDate(dt).group(1), dt)
 		dt = '2005 JUN 03'; self.assertEqual(t.matchDate(dt).group(1), dt)
 
+	def testNotAnchoredCollision(self):
+		# try for patterns with and without word boundaries:
+		for dp in (r'%H:%M:%S', r'{UNB}%H:%M:%S'):
+			dd = DateDetector()
+			dd.appendTemplate(dp)
+			# boundary of timestamp changes right and left (and time is left and right in line):
+			for fmt in ('%s test', '%8s test', 'test %s', 'test %8s'):
+				for dt in (
+					'00:01:02',
+					'00:01:2',
+					'00:1:2',
+					'0:1:2',
+					'00:1:2',
+					'00:01:2',
+					'00:01:02',
+					'0:1:2',
+					'00:01:02',
+				):
+					t = dd.getTime(fmt % dt)
+					self.assertEqual((t[0], t[1].group()), (1123970462.0, dt))
+
 	def testAmbiguousInOrderedTemplates(self):
 		dd = self.datedetector
 		for (debit, line, cnt) in (