Development squad vs. Harrogate (H) Sat 11th Aug - Match Report

[Powlay]

Middlesbrough Development were supposed to have been playing Harrogate away from home on their fantastic new pitch, but due to the fantastic English summer that we have seen it was cancelled.

Hastily rearranged this week and at Rockliffe I was able to get along and take a final look at the development team before they open their season against Crystal Palace on the 20th in what is expected to be a behind closed door game.

Trialist Keeper Jayson Leutwiler was in goal in what would was expected to be a good test against a tough Harrogate side which included a fair few players who have Football League experience including former Boro player Alan White.

In front of the big Swiss giant were a solid defensive unit or Andre Bennett, Christian Burgess, Adam Jackson and Ben Gibson. Kyle Oliver and Matty Dolan sat in front of them with an advanced midfield 3 of Jordan Jones, Ryan Brobbel and Curtis Edwards. Wilson Kneeshaw was asked to do the thankless task of being the lone striker.

The game started with Middlesbrough moving the ball well, Curtis Edwards who recently got a taste of first team experience roaming about being the pivot for attacking plays. Harrogate was not here just to make up the numbers, they were constantly chasing, closing down, trying to force the ball wide rather than central. Jordan Jones has the first effort of the day, skipping past his man in midfield but pulling the ball well wide of the Harrogate goal.

Moments later Middlesbrough had the lead, Ryan Brobbel picked the ball up centrally, and he looked ready to strike the ball but had the time to run closer to goal before he struck a low drive into the bottom right hand corner of one time Benfica trainee José Veiga’s goal.

GOAL BORO – Brobbel 1-0

At the other end Leutwiler was doing well confidently collecting high crosses, he showed his bravery when he came out to collect a low cross with forward Chib Chilaka closing in quickly. The keeper got there first and held on as the Harrogate forward clattered into him. Both players went down, Chilaka holding his head and Leutwiler laid out flat. Thankfully a few moments treatment and both were up and able to continue.

HALF TIME – Middlesbrough 1 (Brobbel) Harrogate 0

There were no changes as Middlesbrough kicked off the second half, Harrogate came out all guns blazing, chasing down Middlesbrough each and every pass, trying to force mistakes and instantly had a good effort from 20 yards that Leutwiler made seem easier than it actually was. Another Harrogate chance, a free kick from 25 yards was wasted as Curtis Edwards charged down the striker.

BORO Sub – Brobbel off, Warnett on. Kneeshaw off, Wyke on.

BORO Sub – Burgess off Sirrell on.

Sirrell came on and went left back, Gibson moving over to partner Jackson at centre back. Harrogate clearly improved after the break, were having the more threatening possession. Jackson though was solid in the air and time and time again he seemed to be in the right place at the right time with saving tackles or clearances. Even when Harrogate did get an opportunity Jayson Leutwiler had it well covered.

BORO Sub – Jones off, Fowler on.

Boro Sub – Bennett off, Pilatos on, Dolan off, Waters on, Edwards off, Rivers on.

Middlesbrough seemed to be a lot more sporadic in their attacking play, Charlie Wyke holding the ball up well and allowing players to run off him. From a corner won like this Jake Fowler crossed in a dangerous ball and Wyke rose unmarked like a leaping gazelle and nodded in off the far post to double the Boro lead.¹

GOAL BORO – Wyke 2-0

Harrogate had their best chance moments later a burst down their right and a smart ball inside the box saw the ball pulled back to their striker who couldn’t connect properly when 6 yards out giving Leutwiler an easy save.

Into the final 5 minutes of the game and a moment of brilliance.

Jimmy Warnett picked the ball up on the Boro left, he jinked to go outside and cut back inside onto his favored right foot and let fly a rocket that slowly gained height and was still going upwards and it hit the net at the near post giving the Harrogate keeper no chance at all.

GOAL BORO – Warnett 3-0

FULL TIME Middlesbrough 3 Harrogate 0.

¹ - Wyke headed in despite a shout at the time when he went to head it of ‘Free header’ and a opposition player blaming the pitch for him not being able to get there.

Man of the Match.
Adam Jackson – Fantastic in the air, growing with stature each and every season at the club. Not one to go to grounds quickly, he often waits till the right time before popping across the player and taking the ball off him but when he does go to ground it’s a last ditch situation and more often than not he clears the ball away to safety.

[richmfc]

powlay has morris gone back down to the 19s or wherever

[Powlay]

He played for the U18s vs Sheffield Wednesday this week.

With Edwards, Dolan, Oliver, Jones, Waters and others there are a lot of midfielders ahead of him, so it makes sense to 90 minutes him every week at U18 level rather than bench him for the U21s.

Morris has been included in the latest England U17 squad.

[mcgannd]

I seem to be unable to find the fixtures for the u 18s and the u 21s on the Boro web site.

Are there listings we can find ?

[Powlay]

the MFC website dont care about youth football, despite the club being filled with plyers produced by the academy they ime and tim again il when it comesto giving out information.

How sad is it that people go to get info from the official siteand its not there then they come to a forum such as this and WHOOP THERE IT IS!

U16/U18 games



Palace (A) 18th aug

Man City (A) 25th Aug



Fulham (H) 15th Sept

Wolves (A) 22nd Sept

Chelsea (A) 29th Sept



Liverpool (A) 6th Oct

Man City (H) 27th Oct



Palace (H) 3rd Nov

Wolves (H) 10th Nov

Fulham (A) 17th Nov

Chelsea (H) 24th Nov



Liverpool (H) 1st Dec





Development (Under 21) side



Palace (H) 20th Aug

Man City (A) 24th Aug



Fulham 17th Sept

Wolves (H) 24th Sept

Chelsea (A) 28th Sept



Liverpool (H) 8th Oct

Man City (H) 26th Oct



Palace (A) 5th Nov

Wolves (A) 12th Nov

Fulham (H) 19th Nov

Liverpool (A) 23rd Nov



Chelsea (H) 3rd Dec

[The Modfather]

(13-08-2012 10:44 AM)Powlay Wrote:  the MFC website dont care about youth football, despite the club being filled with plyers produced by the academy they ime and tim again il when it comesto giving out information.

How sad is it that people go to get info from the official siteand its not there then they come to a forum such as this and WHOOP THERE IT IS!

U16/U18 games



Palace (A) 18th aug

Man City (A) 25th Aug



Fulham (H) 15th Sept

Wolves (A) 22nd Sept

Chelsea (A) 29th Sept



Liverpool (A) 6th Oct

Man City (H) 27th Oct



Palace (H) 3rd Nov

Wolves (H) 10th Nov

Fulham (A) 17th Nov

Chelsea (H) 24th Nov



Liverpool (H) 1st Dec





Development (Under 21) side



Palace (H) 20th Aug

Man City (A) 24th Aug



Fulham 17th Sept

Wolves (H) 24th Sept

Chelsea (A) 28th Sept



Liverpool (H) 8th Oct

Man City (H) 26th Oct



Palace (A) 5th Nov

Wolves (A) 12th Nov

Fulham (H) 19th Nov

Liverpool (A) 23rd Nov



Chelsea (H) 3rd Dec

Any Idea as to which 2 of the U18 games will be played at the Riverside? and what games if any of our away ones will be played at 1st team stadiums?

[Powlay]

U21 wise im led to believe Liverpool, Chelsea ad Man City.

U18 wise im not sure yet im afraid

---

U18 wise they're all to be played on saturdays so maybe none.

[The Modfather]

(13-08-2012 12:16 PM)Powlay Wrote:  U21 wise im led to believe Liverpool, Chelsea ad Man City.

U18 wise im not sure yet im afraid

---

U18 wise they're all to be played on saturdays so maybe none.

I thought as part of the EPPP they had to play 2 games at the Riverside?, cross referencing fixtures it looks like the only possibles are Crystal Palace, Wolves & Liverpool, on the dates of the other fixtures, 1st team are also Home that weekend, so would rule those games out.

[Powlay]

The rules have been relaxed for this first season,