Middlesbrough 10 v 4 Manchester
Rainbow Leisure Centre 23/10/10
Middlesbrough went into there 2nd game of the season with a 100% record and their aim was to keep this intact. The team this year showed the depth in the squad by bringing in Graeme Stewart who has not signed for 2 years but who is back and fighting for his place in the team, knocking out ex-captain John Jones. Newly signed and ex-professional Maiol Gratis was also not named in the 10 player squad to face arch rivals Manchester.
This same fixture in the past two seasons has went to Boro through goals in the last 10 seconds on both occasions. This year Boro were determined not to leave it till then.
After a full week of intense training Boro opted for youth over experience with an average age of the team being just 19. Boro were slow to get off the mark and it was Manchetster who took the first strike through a deflected shot. The Boro youngsters needed to dig deep but again it was Manchester that took the initiative from some sloppy defending and some not to clever goalkeeping Manchester went two up. The game was not going in Boro’s way so Captain Michael Ableson called a time out and brought on veteran defender Peter Lonsdale and part timer Marc Rutland. Within minutes of the restart the game had changed to all Boro with Lonsdale and Rutland adding some vital experience. With 14 minutes gone it was Lonsdale that hit a rocket that flew into the top corner and the Boro team could see there way back into the game. 1:30 minute later it was Rutland who skillfully skated round the goal and then drove the ball through his legs into the top corner of the net, a sure for goal of the season winner. All of a sudden Manchester had lost their composure and could not get close to the flying Boro. With 5 minutes left on the clock Owen Stewart who has recently returned from England captain duty, hit the ball sweetly straight into the roof of the net, then Lonsdale netted another securing his brace from a goal mouth scramble.
The second half started much the same with Boro taking control and not allowing Manchester any time to play. Against the run of play it was Manchester who pulled one back, this didn’t phase Boro and again Stewart scored his 2nd. Boro continued to press and this paid off with goals from Michael Ableson, Rutland scoring his second and Stewart getting a well deserved 5. Boro’s depth and perseverance paid off seeing them win the game comfortably 10-4.
Boro’s vice captain Dan Palmer commented after the game “It was a hard decision leaving the two players out of this game especially with there skill and experience but it shows this year with the caliber of players across the whole squad whoever we bring in we can grind out results, today we ended up winning easily where in passed this has proved a hard fixture. We now just need to copy this performance through the rest of the season”
