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U21's vs. Crystal Palace (H) Mon 20th Aug - Match Report


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Middlesbrough opened the new U21 Premier League with a home game vs. Crystal Palace on what was a fantastic summer’s day at Rockliffe.

 

Joe Bennett was a surprise name on the team sheet playing as an over age player as he recovered from an injury sustained in pre-season.

 

Boro lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, Matthew Dolan the captain sitting in front of the defence and Wilson Kneeshaw again as in pre season asked to do the hard running up front alone. Ryan Brobbel and Jake Fowler were the wide players asked to support Kneeshaw when possible.

 

Middlesbrough were quickly into their stride moving the ball about, never dwelling too long and making the Palace defence shift with diagonals across the field. Captain Dolan had Boro’s first chance getting onto the end of a Joe Bennett cross but he couldn’t direct his header and nodded wide of the goal.

 

Bruno Pilatos found space on the right side when coming forward and it was during one of these forays into the opposition half where the next Boro chance came from. Pilatos fed the ball inside to Edwards who had a give and go with Brobbel and Edwards found a yard of space to strike the ball which Palace keeper Fitzsimons was equal to.

 

Pilatos again found space down the right and it was a low cross by him that Jake Fowler got onto the end of, but as he turned he couldn’t keep his shot down and it went over the bar.

 

Only moments later and Middlesbrough did have the lead. Matthew Dolan picked up the ball some 30 yards out, turned took a touch to steady himself and launched a left foot rocket, the ball flew off his foot and went into the top right hand corner of the goal with the Palace keeper unable to do anything but admire the strike.

 

GOAL BORO – Dolan 1-0

 

Minutes later and another Boro goal, good Boro passing around the box saw Kyle Oliver set up Jake Fowler with a clever back heel, Fowlers strike was blocked on the way to goal and Kneeshaw reacted quickest getting there to knock in before the keeper could advance to close it down.

 

GOAL BORO - Kneeshaw 2-0

 

Crystal Palace had few opportunities in the first half, Kieran Woodley being very isolated up front. Bayan Fenwick his a free kick just wide of Ripley’s left post, the Boro keeper at full stretch to cover it as it went wide.

 

Boro were not done though, Ryan Brobbel turned well after being found by Joe Bennett, he set his sights and hit a swerving shot that the Palace keeper will feel he probably should have saved but he managed to get nothing onto it and the ball went into the top of the net from 25 yards.

 

GOAL BORO – Brobbel 3-0

 

As the half drew to a close Kyle Oliver and Boateng went down after a clash of heads allowing the players a drinks break.

 

Half Time – Middlesbrough 3 Crystal Palace 0

 

Oliver didn’t return for the second half, his head injury caused sickness and he was replaced by Rivers. Palace made two subs of their own taking off Akaruka and Woodley and bringing on Gus Sow and Jason Banton. Allassanni moved central in attack and Banton played off him.

 

Subs Boro – Oliver off Rivers on (45)

Subs Palace – Akaruka off, Sow on, Woodley off, Banton on. (45)

 

Palace were better in the second half, pressing more as a team and moving midfielders forward to support when attacking. A weak Palace penalty appeal when Riese Allassanni went down was waved away and seconds later a stronger Boro penalty appeal when Kneeshaw was tripped received the same answer from the referee Mr G. Beswick.

 

Kneeshaw got back up and found himself out wide left, he got to the goal line and beat his man coming in towards the goal. A little flick and the keeper went down and cleverly Kneeshaw passed the ball to Rivers who had a tap in from 3 yards.

 

GOAL BORO – Rivers 4-0

 

Middlesbrough goal keeper Connor Ripley hadn’t had much to do, but was well aware of his surroundings when a Fenwick strike from distance moved in the air. The Boro keeper back peddling caught the ball and released it before he stepped back over the line.

 

Boro sub – Kneeshaw off, Wyke on. (70)

Boro Sub – Dolan off, Waters on. (75)

 

Allassanni and Banton linked up well down the Boro left to create a corner but Palace really didn’t create many clear goal scoring opportunities with is a compliment to the solid Boro back 4.

 

Middlesbrough had chances to extend their lead, Fitzsimons saving low to his right from a Charlie Wyke drive. Then high in the top left corner when Ryan Brobbel got his head to a looping Joe Bennett cross.

 

Full time – Middlesbrough 4 Crystal Palace 0

 

Middlesbrough: Connor Ripley, Bruno Pilatos, Joe Bennett, Matthew Dolan © (waters 75), Christian Burgess, Adam Jackson, Ryan Brobbel, Kyle Oliver (Jarrett Rivers 45), Curtis Edwards, Wilson Kneeshaw (Charlie Wyke 70), Jake Fowler.

Unused: Sirrell, Montgomery (GK)

 

Crystal Palace: Ross Fitzsimons, Aaron Akaruka (Gus Sow 45), Michael Chambers, Quade Taylor, Jack Holland, Alex Wynter, Bayan Fenwick, Hiram Boateng, Kieran Woodley (Jason Benton 45), Riese Allassanni, Kadel Daniel.

Unused: David Gregory, Jake Gray, Sullay Kai Kai.

 

Man of the Match.

Matthew Dolan.

After a very productive pre season Dolan has carried his form into the league, opening the scoring with a stunning strike the Hartlepool born midfielder pulled the strings from a deep position. Almost every move went through him. Simply, a class above today.

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Brilliant stuff. Would definitely get myself down there if I wasn't living abroad.

 

They should announce that on the official website if they haven't already, it'd be nice to see a decent crowd of Boro supporters turn up to watch our up and coming youngsters in this league.

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