Boro U18s 2 Man Utd U18s 0
TWO goals from Jonathan Franks gave Middlesbrough U18's victory against Manchester United at Rockliffe Park as Joe Bennett was sent off, writes SAM LOUGHRAN.
Manchester United nearly scored within 10 seconds of kick-off and only a superb block from Jason Steele in the Boro goal saved the home side when Federico Macheda was sent clean through.
Martin Scott's side had been warned in the opening exchanges and took note as they dug in and began to outplay United as after five minutes Franks stung the palms of the keeper in the opposition goal, following good anticipation and distribution from Nathan Porritt.
Boro were starting to stamp their authority on the game with good movement from Jason White and David Hillerby allowing many midfield creations while thwarting United's attacks across the pitch.
With 20 minutes on the clock Manchester United came very close to taking the lead as a free-kick was only half cleared by the Boro backline. The ball was picked up edge of the penalty area and shot towards the top corner which forced Steele into a full-stretch save.
The deadlock was broken after 27 minutes, with Jonathan Franks found in space on the right of the penalty area, he worked a yard on the covering defender and drove his shot across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner to give Boro the lead.
Boro very nearly doubled their advantage just past the half hour mark as the move of the game saw Franks pick the ball up near the right corner flag where he found Theo Furness who dropped the ball inside to Jonathan Harris and in turn floated a pinpoint cross to the head of Porritt whose looping effort ended up being turned over by the uncertain United keeper.
Half Time: Middlesbrough 1 Man Utd 0
The second period began with Boro still looking the better side, though only four minutes into the half the visitors nearly equalised and it would have been fortuitous.
A cross from the left was blocked by Ashley Corker, who was excellent all afternoon, and left Steele heading the wrong way as the ball started trickling towards the line only for Nathan Bonar to expertly clear his lines under heavy pressure from onrushing United attackers.
Just past the hour mark, Boro had a marvellous chance to put daylight between the teams as a swift break found Franks in a wide left position and he managed to deliver the ball on a plate to Porritt who took a touch and blazed over from 10 yards, when he should have scored.
Ten minutes later, Boro had the ball in the net but half-time substitute Richard Smallwood was to be denied by the assistant referee's offside flag.
It was a good move that culminated in a delicate chip from James Cronesberry which cut the visitors defence in half, Smallwood chested the ball down and volleyed into the net but his delight was short lived thanks to the referee's whistle.
A perfectly floated ball from Furness found the effective Franks and he came close yet again as he belted a shot from inside the penalty area against the crossbar, much to the visitors' relief.
With only ten minutes left of the game, Manchester United broke forward in the right central position only for Joe Bennett, pictured below, to chop down the advancing attacker and subsequently was given his marching orders meaning Boro had to play the remainder of the game with only 10 men.
As the man advantage started to become apparent, Boro broke forward with pace as Cronesberry charged down the left hand side where he fed the tricky Porritt and he stretched the United defence. He hit a shot across the goalkeeper who could only palm the effort to Franks who was on hand from three yards to wrap up victory.
Manchester United rarely threatened throughout the game and came closest on 88 minutes as a 25 yard drive bounced back off the bar as Steele got the slightest of touches to once again deny the visitors.
The result means Boro remain unbeaten this calendar year and in 13 games in total.
