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DJH · 19th September 2003, 23:24

From Rednews:

Reserves report
Friday, September 19, 2003

By RN Reader WC

Team

Carroll; Lynch, Tate, Tierney (capt), Pugh; Fletcher, Jones, Richardson, Bellion; Timm, Nardiello

Subs: Eagles for Fletcher, M. Williams and Byrne for Bellion and Richardson.
Subs not used: B. Williams, Bardsley.

Another heartbreaker for the Reds. 2-0 up and cruising at halftime only to lose 3-2. Middlesbrough feature a couple of erstwhile first teamers Carlo Nash in goal, Stockdale and Riggott at the back and Carlos Marinelli.

Boro started at 1000 mile per hour, they chased and closed United down all over the pitch. Was pretty even with neither team getting into a real rhythm. Fletcher and Bellion looked the best of our boys early on and combined excellently to carve out our first chance. DB7 crossed from the left and Fletcher saw his header clip the top of the bar. As the half progressed United were getting more joy down the left as Marinelli was seemingly not interested in the defensive duties associated with playing right side midfield for Boro. David Bellion found more space and finally, on the half hour, created the first. Nice run down the outside to the byline, a crisp pull back to find Mads Timm about 10 yards out. The Dane hit an unstoppable drive to Nash's right hand side to make it 1-0.

Just before the half the lead was doubled. This time through Fletcher. Again we built down the left and the ball was worked across the edge of the area to find the spare man, Fletch, near the right edge of the area. He took his time to hit an excellent shot with the outside of his right foot giving Nash no chance at all. 2-0 was about right at half-time.

The second half couldn't have started much worse for United. A Boro corner on the left came into the box and fell to Riggott who was unmarked and only 8 yards or so out. He hit it first time low and to Roy Carroll's left. Roy got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out. I think Roy will be disappointed not to have got a stronger hand to it but the real crime was in the lack of marking in the first place. 2-1, game on.

At the hour mark United took off Darren Fletcher and Chris Eagles came on. Bellion and Eagles switched so Bellion now operated down United's right. Soon, after Marinelli went off for Boro, the game began to swing in the favour of the visitors. With about 15 minutes to go Boro fashioned an equaliser. It was not long after they had hit the post so it did seem like it was coming. A bit of a scramble just on the edge of our box, Mads Timm looked as though he'd snuffed out the danger but the ball got stuck beneath his feet and (some Boro bloke) hit a right footed wonder shot. Arrowed into the top corner at Roy's near post. I thought Roy did pretty well to just get a hand to it but he will, again I'm sure, be disappointed that he couldn't get more on it to keep it out. 2-2.

The winner was even more of a wonder strike, this was from Brian Close (I think). Boro's inside right channel well outside the box. A looping volley just out of Roy's reach in off the underside of the bar. Again Roy will not be happy, this was well struck but in the middle of the goal. 2-3.

United's boys pushed forward and had worked a couple of openings in the second half but only forced Nash to make a couple of saves. I think a draw would have been fair to us, but considering the freakish nature of their final 2 goals the loss was really harsh on the boys in Red.

On the plus side, Fletcher just looks better and better every time I see him. After his cameo role on Tuesday I'm sure his confidence is soaring at the moment and he looked our best player and we surely would have created better opportunities in the final half hour had he not been substituted, maybe he has a part to play on Sunday (bench if Ole doesn't recover)? Likewise David Bellion was, at times unstoppable. He really is blisteringly quick and seemed not to be headless as he has been labelled by some before. He certainly has potential to be a player. First time I've seen Kieran Richardson playing in central midfield and he did well there. The back 4 were solid, Danny Pugh made a few mistakes, but largely a good performance by them.

Next match - West Brom away (The Hawthorns) Monday 22/9 7pm

19th September 2003, 23:24	#65 (permalink)
DJH Reserve Team Player Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The Land of the Long White Cloud Posts: 1,042	From Rednews: Reserves report Friday, September 19, 2003 By RN Reader WC Team Carroll; Lynch, Tate, Tierney (capt), Pugh; Fletcher, Jones, Richardson, Bellion; Timm, Nardiello Subs: Eagles for Fletcher, M. Williams and Byrne for Bellion and Richardson. Subs not used: B. Williams, Bardsley. Another heartbreaker for the Reds. 2-0 up and cruising at halftime only to lose 3-2. Middlesbrough feature a couple of erstwhile first teamers Carlo Nash in goal, Stockdale and Riggott at the back and Carlos Marinelli. Boro started at 1000 mile per hour, they chased and closed United down all over the pitch. Was pretty even with neither team getting into a real rhythm. Fletcher and Bellion looked the best of our boys early on and combined excellently to carve out our first chance. DB7 crossed from the left and Fletcher saw his header clip the top of the bar. As the half progressed United were getting more joy down the left as Marinelli was seemingly not interested in the defensive duties associated with playing right side midfield for Boro. David Bellion found more space and finally, on the half hour, created the first. Nice run down the outside to the byline, a crisp pull back to find Mads Timm about 10 yards out. The Dane hit an unstoppable drive to Nash's right hand side to make it 1-0. Just before the half the lead was doubled. This time through Fletcher. Again we built down the left and the ball was worked across the edge of the area to find the spare man, Fletch, near the right edge of the area. He took his time to hit an excellent shot with the outside of his right foot giving Nash no chance at all. 2-0 was about right at half-time. The second half couldn't have started much worse for United. A Boro corner on the left came into the box and fell to Riggott who was unmarked and only 8 yards or so out. He hit it first time low and to Roy Carroll's left. Roy got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out. I think Roy will be disappointed not to have got a stronger hand to it but the real crime was in the lack of marking in the first place. 2-1, game on. At the hour mark United took off Darren Fletcher and Chris Eagles came on. Bellion and Eagles switched so Bellion now operated down United's right. Soon, after Marinelli went off for Boro, the game began to swing in the favour of the visitors. With about 15 minutes to go Boro fashioned an equaliser. It was not long after they had hit the post so it did seem like it was coming. A bit of a scramble just on the edge of our box, Mads Timm looked as though he'd snuffed out the danger but the ball got stuck beneath his feet and (some Boro bloke) hit a right footed wonder shot. Arrowed into the top corner at Roy's near post. I thought Roy did pretty well to just get a hand to it but he will, again I'm sure, be disappointed that he couldn't get more on it to keep it out. 2-2. The winner was even more of a wonder strike, this was from Brian Close (I think). Boro's inside right channel well outside the box. A looping volley just out of Roy's reach in off the underside of the bar. Again Roy will not be happy, this was well struck but in the middle of the goal. 2-3. United's boys pushed forward and had worked a couple of openings in the second half but only forced Nash to make a couple of saves. I think a draw would have been fair to us, but considering the freakish nature of their final 2 goals the loss was really harsh on the boys in Red. On the plus side, Fletcher just looks better and better every time I see him. After his cameo role on Tuesday I'm sure his confidence is soaring at the moment and he looked our best player and we surely would have created better opportunities in the final half hour had he not been substituted, maybe he has a part to play on Sunday (bench if Ole doesn't recover)? Likewise David Bellion was, at times unstoppable. He really is blisteringly quick and seemed not to be headless as he has been labelled by some before. He certainly has potential to be a player. First time I've seen Kieran Richardson playing in central midfield and he did well there. The back 4 were solid, Danny Pugh made a few mistakes, but largely a good performance by them. Next match - West Brom away (The Hawthorns) Monday 22/9 7pm