U21s Report: Boro 1 City 3

Jeff Schlupp opened the scoring for City at Hartlepool United’s Victoria Park with a cool finish after an eye-catching turn of pace midway through the first half, before an equally impressive finish from Ben Marshall doubled the advantage on the hour mark.

A feisty Middlesbrough side, who saw a penalty saved by Adam Smith in the first half, then pulled a goal back through Andrew Halliday’s long-ranger with 15 minutes left, but Tom Hopper put the result beyond any doubt with a sensational left footed strike worthy of winning any match.

Manager Steve Beaglehole named an experienced side for the trip face Boro, with loan signing from Arsenal, Miquel pulling on a blue shirt for the first time in a defence that included Bakayogo at left back and U21s skipper Alie Sesay at right back.

Schlupp, Martyn Waghorn and Marshall also featured opposite a home side that started with midfielder Luke Williams – who came off the bench on the opening day of the Championship season against City’s senior side.

A heavy rain shower just before kick-off meant the pitch was particularly quick in the opening stages. However Boro’s Cameron Park should still have done better on two minutes when Adam Reach’s ball gave him an open goal to aim at, only for the No10 to miss from five yards.

Another fine chance for the home side to take the lead came and went on 14 minutes after City trialist Angus McDonald was adjudged to have fouled Wilson Kneeshaw inside the area by referee Andrew Miller.

Andrew Halliday was elected to take the spot kick, which he struck powerfully with his left foot towards the bottom right corner, but City’s former Boro youngster Adam Smith guessed the right way and made a super save to keep it at 0-0.

After an opening period that saw the home side have the better of the chances, it was City who were able to produce the clinical finish required as they took the lead through Schlupp on 25 minutes.

The ball was played into the striker’s feet with his back to goal on the edge of the area before he displayed a brilliant turn of pace to lose his marker and slot a confident shot past Luke Coddington.

It was a moment that seemed to ignite City’s creative spark as they looked far more lively from that moment on – Waghorn and Marshall both going close from long range, while Coddington made a smart stop to cut out a dangerous Hopper cross to keep it at 1-0 going into half time.

Boro made two changes after the break, while City opted to use Hopper in a more central position as they sought a second goal to further establish their lead.

The main threat for City continued to be Schlupp, as in the 53rd minute his pace took him away from his full back with ease, allowing him to cut a neat ball back for trialist Ryan Watson. However the former Wigan man couldn’t keep his first-time effort down as it whistled over the crossbar.

As it turned out, City’s wait for a second goal was well worth it - Marshall delivering a brilliant finish on 60 minutes.

Waghorn picked out the midfielder’s run with a well-timed ball before Marshall did all the rest – looking like he was about to take the ball around the goalkeeper before clipping a perfect chip over him and into the corner of the net.

Boro responded to some serious City pressure through some direct play of their own, hitting the post before finally pulling a goal back through Halliday – a powerful left footed effort from 25 yards that found the bottom corner with 15 minutes left.

Just 180 seconds later, though, City’s two-goal cushion was restored thanks to Hopper. The striker picked up the ball on the right, before embarking on a mazy run that ended with a thunderous drive on the angle from the left side of the box that cannoned in off the upright.

Middlesbrough huffed and puffed in an effort to salvage a point in the closing stages, but with the addition of Harry Panayiotou late on, City’s pace on the counter was becoming a significant threat, and helped them to comfortably see out the game 3-1.

Middlesbrough (4-3-3): Coddington, Bennett, Burn, Jackson (c), Meling, Morris (Jones 46), Reach, Williams (B. Halliday 82), Kneeshaw, Park (Waters 46), A. Halliday

Subs not used: Fryer, Weledji

Goal: Halliday 75

City (4-4-2): A. Smith, Sesay (c), Bakayogo, Nkumu (Cain 80), Miquel, McDonald, Marshall (Panayiotou 82), Watson, Waghorn, Hopper, Schlupp

Subs not used: Taft, J. Smith, Elder

Goals: Schlupp 25, Marshall 60, Hopper 78 

Referee: Andrew Miller