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U18's vs. Arsenal (H) Sat 21st Sept - Match Report


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Images from todays game

 

Middlesbrough will have hoped for a better result when they got late last season when ***nal visited Rockliffe late last season winning 1-0 with what was a very attractive side footballing wise.

 

The London side were straight on the attack after a heavy touch in the Boro midfield, Hinds gave the ball to Jamaal Raage who had come in from the right side and hit a low left foot shot, Fryer going to his left was unable to reach it and the ball nestled in the corner of the net, the visitors were in the lead after only a minute!

 

GOAL ***NAL! 0-1 Raage

 

It took Boro a few moments to recover before getting the ball down and moving it about as they do so well at this level, Matty Elsdon and Jonathan Coleby in the heart of the defence were moving the ball about switching play to the flanks and moving the ***nal defence looking for gaps.

 

Boro’s passing game started to bring its own rewards, a Mark Kitching free kick was headed away for a corner, a McAloon move down the right ended with a cross that just evaded Junior Mondal, Cooke managed to get onto it at the back post, he found McCarthy and his shot was blocked.

 

Jonathan Coleby playing at centre back this season stepped forward and played a delightful lofted ball which Junior Mondal took down superbly, his shot though was blocked for a corner. From that Cooke linked up with McAloon who’s shot was easily saved by young England international Ryan Huddart.

 

Middlesbrough were really starting to impose themselves on the game, England U17 international Callum Cooke strode forward in the middle of midfield and he played a weighted pass into the path of Tom McAloon but he knocked the ball too far forward allowing the keeper to collect.

 

Mark Kitching started a superb flowing move from inside his half, sharing passes with Griffiths, McNab and finally a one-two with Junior Mondal near the half way line on the left side before Kitching stretched his legs and flew down the left side, he put a teasing cross in which saw ***nal keeper Huddart come, then go back leaving the ball which found its way to McAloon at the far post, the young Boro forward side football the ball into the net and Boro were level.

The goal was a superb passing move that highlighted the ability of the players with the ball at their feet.

 

GOAL BORO! 1-1 McAloon

 

***nal upped their game immediately, a long ball nearly caught out Boro keeper Joe Fryer, he came out looking to volley the ball clear, but in the end made an unorthodox clearance with his knee after a vicious bounce. Chris Willock playing on the ***nal left cut in on his right foot before striking the ball well but Boro defender Ross McNab threw himself into the way the ball going for a corner. ***nal should have took the lead from the corner, a inswinger found Lipman wide open but he headed wide from 6 yeards.

 

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Fryer punches clear

Copyright Christopher Powlay

 

Another deep cross from the left nearly put Lipman in, McNab aware of the ***nal player though headed the ball away from danger.

 

The action was end to end and Boro had a glorious chance to take the lead. A long ball found Tom McAloon in space on the right, he cut in and sent a cross in which was just out of the read of Junior Mondal, the ball though struck an ***nal defender and flew up to Mondal who headed goalward from 6 yards. Huddart was still as the ball looked destined for the net but an ***nal defender spun and cleared the ball to safety.

 

***nals Chiori Johnson was the first player into the referee’s bad book. He received a yellow for a late tackle on McCarthy who broke and was caught just as he tried to put a cross in. McAloon guided a header straight into the hands of Huddart after good work by McNab.

 

Down the other end Matty Elsdon somehow managed to block a Lipman strike over the Boro bar, from the resulting corner by Raage the visitors took the lead again. Kaylen Hinds rising unchallenged before heading in.

 

GOAL ***NAL! 1-2

 

It really was an open end to end game, and Boro hit back immediately. The ball was passed around well on the right hand side, Helm, Griffiths and then a forward ball by Coleby found Cooke, he turned well and fed the ball into McAloon centrally, he passed the ball across the edge of the box where Junior Mondal central position dummied it allowing it to run to Callum Cooke, he struck the ball sweetly with his left foot and a full stretch Huddart couldn’t stop it arrowing into the far corner!

 

GOAL BORO! 2-2 Cooke

 

Junior Mondal nearly extended the lead turning well inside the ***nal box but his low shot was saved well. At the other end ***nals Jamaal Rage nearly had a carbon copy of his goal, he cut inside and great footwork saw him make space before shooting but the ball flew over Fryers bar.

 

Half time Middlesbrough 2 ***nal 2

 

The 2nd half got underway with Hinds trying to curl the ball into Fryers top corner but the Boro keeper was aware and saved the ball easily. Jonathan Helm was linking up well with McCarthy when he pulled wide and he pit the forward into space, McCarthy managed to find room to cut inside the box and strike a low drive but it was saved well at the near post, from the resulting corner Mark Kitching swung in a deadly ball which Jonathan Coleby headed onto the ***nal bar!

Ross McNabb found himself in toe referee’s book for a misstimed challence.

 

Thomas McAloon had switched to the left side in the second half burst past his marker getting into the box and pulling back a low teasing cross, McCarthy got across his man and managed to get the ball goal ward but it was well saved by the ***nal keeper Huddart. Another cross from the left got cleared to the edge of the ***nal box, Boro midfielder Callum Cooke struck a right footed volley superbly from 25 yards out forcing Huddart into a smart save tipping the ball wide.

 

***nal Sub –Johnson off, Olomola on.

 

Jonathan Helm who had been involved in a battle with Willock all game found himself in the ref’s book for a late challenge on the ***nal winger.

 

Boro Sub – Mondal off, Jowers on.

 

***nal broke well down the Boro left, the ball coming out to Smith who struck the ball straight at Fryer. McNab went down in the build up and struggled to continue.

 

Boro Sub – McNab off, Plews on.

 

***nal pushed for the winner, Willock flew down the left managing to get past Coleby and slip it to Dobson as Fryer came out but the ***nal midfielders shot was blocked after he slipped when striking the ball.

 

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***nal flyer Christopher Willock

Copyright Christopher Powlay

 

Boro continued their push for the winner, Nathan Plews cutting in from the left and firing a curler into the keepers hands.

 

***nal Sub – Willock off, Dawkins on.

 

Into the final minutes of the game and Boro struck a late and deadly blow to the visitors, Callum Cooke broke from midfield into space and he gave the ball to Jordan Jowers who moved moved across the ***nal 18 yard box and the ball bounced kindly to him, he struck a low left footed drive across the keeper (like Raage in the opening minute) and into the net much to the delight of the Boro team to win it in the dying seconds. A very composed finish when it looked like there was little or no chance to shoot.

 

GOAL BORO! 3-2 Jowers

 

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Boro match winner Jordan Jowers

Copyright Christopher Powlay

 

Full Time Middlesbrough 3 ***nal 2

 

Boro: Fryers, Helm, McNab (Plews), Griffiths, Coleby, Elsdon, Cooke, Kitching ©, McAloon, McCarthy, Mondal (Jowers)

Unused: Fry, Wheatly, Dawson

 

***nal: Huddart, Johnson (Olomola), Wright, Dallison, Uade, Smith, Dobson, Willock (Hawkins), Hinds, Lipman. (unsure who Thorbourne came on for)

 

Man of the Match/Thoughts.

Fantastic match that was an ideal poster for U18’s football. Both teams attacked with speed, with vision and through passing the ball. Both sides also defended superbly, some good blocks, some attacking overlapping. Willock stood out for the visitors along with Raage who scored and got an assist.

For the home team Helm was solid at right back despite being up against ***nal’s attacking winger Willock. Elsdon and Coleby were solid at centre back, spraying the ball wide when needed and Coleby nearly scoring. Cooke and Griffiths did well in midfield, Cooke shining attacking wise with a goal and a assist and a stunning volley coming close. Mondal in the first half (before being kicked up in the air) was a constant threat. McAloon and McCarthy strong up front and direct when needed. But my man of the match today was Captain Marvel Mark Kitching. He showed his versatility attacking in the first half, getting an assist after a superb run. And defending in the second, when he needed to protect the back 4.

 

 

Images from todays game

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