NRSC

18th March 2009

Attendance - 129

Team - Campbell, Wilson, Lambert (Gilding 53) Thomson, Allison, Brooke (Waters 89), James, Ovington, Barwick, Shabani (Magill 78) Reid Subs not used: Robinson, Gibson and Harrison

Report - by Andy Baxter - The clearly obvious abilities of the full time Middlesbrough U19s soon shone through against an inexperienced U19s Whitby side. Whitby having played a league match the previous night were forced to field their youngsters, with the only exception being 38 year old keeper, David Campbell, who was kept busy all evening and failed to stop Boro’s opener after 5 minutes, when a lovely long pass from Peter Gal-Anorezly found Gary Martin in the area, whose first time side foot volley, found the Whitby net.

Campbell was then forced to save a header from Joe Bennett as dominant Middlesbrough continued to drive forward and didn’t allow Whitby to venture into their half. As move after move created chances for the visitors, Martin was adjudged to be brought down inside the area and a penalty was awarded. He took the spot kick and although Campbell made a superb diving save to his right, Martin was ready to pounce and slotted the rebound home to double Middlesbrough’s advantage.

The visitors nearly increased their lead following 5 or 6 interchanges which resulted in a low powerful strike from Ash Corker which narrowly went wide. But within 3 mins, Martin scored his hat trick when once again, another deep cross from Saike was met by his timely volley and found the net.

Middlesbrough, now comfortably ahead at half time, made 3 substitutions to start the second half, with Bennet, Smallwood and Porritt making way for Weldon, Gray and Otte and shortly after the re-start, Lambert was substituted by Whitby for Gary Gilding.

One of Boro’s replacements, Patrick Otte, increased the visitors lead on 57 mins when he found himself able to volley past Campbell from 8 yards out and 9 mins later, Boro added a fifth goal, again from the superb Martin, who received the ball in the box and had what seemed an embarrassingly large amount of time to pick his spot and drill the ball home.

Whitby did then string a few moves together but nothing that really worried the Middlesbrough rear guard and keeper Jason Steele was virtually a spectator for most of the game. However, to their credit, the Whitby youngsters heads never dropped and they chased for everything for the whole game. Darren Magill came on for Enrik Shabani in the latter stages and Jamie Waters also made a very late appearance for the home side.

But quality from the Premiership youngsters won the day and their impressive U19s ensured their semi final place, convincingly winning this match, which was played in a thoroughly sporting spirit with referee Chris Woodall never having to speak to a single player throughout and not one nasty tackle being made. In fairness, Whitby’s youngsters were taught a footballing lesson but will have welcomed the experience and must have learnt from it.