Boro Mania

DERBY COUNTY U18 1 MIDDLESBROUGH U18 0

The Academy side undeservedly lost for the first time in five games this afternoon after conceding a late winner at table topping Derby County. The home side took the points despite Boro looking the better side for much of the game. In bright and breezy conditions, both sides played some entertaining fast-paced football.

Boro should have taken the lead in the very first minute. A clever through ball from James Cronesberry split the Derby defence and put Johnny Harris through on goal. Having made an excellent run to stay onside, the winger put his shot wide. The home side went close themselves after eight minutes when a 25 yard free-kick was floated just past the right-hand post.

Five minutes later, Derby must have thought they had scored when Boro right back Theo Furness was on hand to clear a spectacular swerving volley off the line. Boro hit back quickly and forward Patrick Otte was unlucky to put the ball just wide after losing his marker in the box and stretching to meet a dangerous cross from the left.

A strong weaving run from his own half by Furness after 22 minutes had the home defence back-pedalling before a disappointing shot failed to trouble the big Derby keeper. Boro almost made the breakthrough two minutes later. The ball ran loose in the area following a corner and centre back Jordan Robinson swivelled on a snap shot only to see the keeper tip the ball round the post.

Boro keeper Sam Filler had his first meaningful save to make after 40 minutes, when rushing out bravely to smother the ball at the feet of the onrushing Derby striker. He then almost created a goal with his long kick upfield. Cronesberry latched onto the ball and held off the opposition full-back before seeing his shot cannon away off the keeper’s legs

Boro started the second half brightly, with Cronesberry cutting inside from the right after a good crossfield ball from Gary Martin before shooting wide from distance. Filler was in action again at the other end after a strong defensive header from left back Ashley Corker fell at the feet of a Derby player 25 yards out. His lobbed shot was creeping under the bar until it was well tipped over.

Mark Proctor made three substitutions in the space of three minutes after two thirds of the game had elapsed. Kyle Oliver replaced Harris and shortly afterwards Conner Sellars and Danny Hawkins came on for Paul Weldon and Otte.

The game opened up considerably in the last 15 minutes with both sides pressing for a winner and there were good chances at either end. Centre back Phil Shead was unlucky to be penalised with a free-kick 25 yards out after having seemingly won the ball cleanly. A well worked set play then found a Derby forward unmarked on the edge of the box but his shot was blocked by a last-ditch challenge from Robinson.

Boro had a lucky escape after 78 minutes when a long-range shot from the left hit the right-hand upright. The ball then rebounded to another Derby player who shot against the other post from 10 yards out. Boro went equally close three minutes later when a powerful strike from substitute Hawkins brought out an excellent full stretch diving save from the Derby keeper.

Midfielder James Gray thought he had won the game for Boro after 85 minutes when he calmly slotted the ball home from 12 yards after a cross from the right, only to be denied by a linesman’s flag. Moments after that incident, the deadlock was broken at the other end. A long cross from the left was bundled towards goal by a Derby forward. Keeper Filler kept that effort out but could only parry it into the path of another Derby player who tapped it in from close range.

It was a disappointing end after a spirited Boro display that deserved a better outcome.

Boro: Filler, Furness, Corker, Shead, Robinson, Weldon (Sellars 69), Harris (Oliver 66), Martin, Otte (Hawkins 69), Cronesberry, Gray.

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