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U18s vs Crewe (H) 10th Sept


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Finished 3-2 to Crewe.

 

Line up- Montgomery, Roberts, Galpin, Sirrell ©, Weledji, Waters, Boagey, Bennett, Garrity, McGlade, Jones.

 

Boro subs - Garrity, McGlade & Boagey off Warnett, Kneeshaw & Maloney on

 

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Middlesbrough lined up this afternoon against what looked like a very strong Crewe side which contained at least two professional players in Brendan Daniels and England U17 world cup star Nick Powell.

 

Boro seemed to start in a 4-4-2 formation with Garrity and McGlade up front, Jones wide left and Boagey wide right. Andre Bennett and Matty Waters in the middle of the pitch, a centre back pairing of Weledji and Sirrell supported at full back by Roberts and Galpin.

 

The conditions didn’t help the usual passing style of play, the wind blowing into and across the faces of the Boro team. Crewe though settled quickly and moved the ball well and when losing possession they pressured well to win it back quickly.

 

It was Crewe who took the lead in unfortunate circumstances, Kieran Weledji slide in to make a last man challenge and unfortunately for the 1st year scholar it rebounded straight to a Crewe player who was able to side foot past the outrushing Montgomery in the Boro goal.

 

Montgomery was called into dramatic action a few minutes later when a long range effort seemed to move wickedly in the air forcing the young Middlesbrough goalkeeper to dive acrobatically to his left and with a strong arm saved cleverly.

 

As the first half went on Middlesbrough finally started to get into their strike, Jordan Jones (who received his first caps at U19 level for Northern Ireland this week) on the left was time after time offering creativity and drive. He was so close to levelling it with a 25 yard drive but was left head in hands as it rebounded off the bar with the Crewe keeper stood like a statue.

 

Adam Garrity was frustrating the Crewe centre halves, chasing harrying, and offering himself as a lone target to Montgomery’s goal kicks. And before the end of the half frustration seemed to vent slightly over when the Crewe George Ray kicked out from the ground after being outmuscled in the air.

Lewis Sirrell though was the first player in the referee’s notebook when he mistimed a hack at the ball and brought down Crewe right back Ryan Hughes. Handbags ensued, but it was quickly sorted by the referee.

 

HT Boro 0 Crewe 1

 

Crewe started the second half like the first and soon had the chance to show off a training ground corner routine. The ball being hit lo and hard across the box and the man dummying it so the trail could hit it. The ball was struck poorly though and as it bounced about in the box a Crewe player flicked it goal bound, it would have been 2-0 if it wasn’t for a superb reactionary save by Montgomery.

Boro started the half better than the first and it only took a few minutes to be into their stride, the impressive Jones breaking from midfield and striking from 20 yards. Boro almost levelled with help of the wind when Andre Bennett crossing from the right only to slightly slice the ball, the backpedalling goal keeper was forced to tip the ball over the bar as the wind almost helped it over him.

 

Boro subs Garrity, Boagey, and McGlade off Maloney, Kneeshaw and Warnett on.

 

Almost immediately after the Boro change there was a goal, unfortunately though it was for the away side. Brendan Daniels came down the right hand side and out muscled the Boro defenders to hit a low shot that went into the far corner despite the keeper getting a hand to it.

 

It was soon 3 when another training ground routine paid off, this time it was a free kick from the left hand side of the box. The impressive Nick Powell fakes to shoot and slide the ball to the overlapping left back who struck the ball cleanly and despite a hand from Montgomery and an attempted Boro clearance the ball ended up in the net.

 

Powell an England U17 World cup player looked a class above anyone else on the pitch, with the score 3-0 he dropped into midfield and slowed the pace of the game right down opting to play possession football rather than look to add to the score line. But this helped Boro back into the game instead of making sure it was killed off.

 

Jimmy Warnett wide on the left looked to have been forced out of a break, he turned back towards his own half then with a burst of speed and trickery flicked towards the Crewe goal and round his man, his deep cross was met on the half volley by the diminutive Lewis Maloney and his strike went in off the bar. There was some debate over the goal the assistant ref raised his flag and it was unsure if offside had been given. But I was later told this was to apparently signal the ball had gone over the line as a few players have questioned it. Either way the goal stood.

 

With only moments to go it was 3-2, again Warnett created down the left and his ball inside was met by Jones whose strike went in off the right hand upright.

 

Jones had a half chance to level it in the last moment as he tricked his way past two Crewe players but his goal bound strike was blocked.

 

FULL TIME Boro 2 Crewe 3

 

Notes:

Nick Powell stood head and shoulders above the others on the pitch, not only size wise but technically as well. Clearly confident in his own ability he often chooses unselfishly to bring other players into the game when he could create for himself.

 

MOTM Jordan Jones, only bright spark in the first half when his shot came back off the bar, got the goal he deserved late in the game.

 

Adam Garrity gets a mention because the kid basically played up front alone, McGlade not realising you need to be close and play off him meant too often Garrity was challenging for headers only to see no Boro shirt within 30 yards of him. Tireless chasing and unselfish play really stood out.

 

Jimmy Warnett also gets a mention because after the introduction of the subs Boro really started to play more attractive football, created both goals for Boro.

 

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