Boro Reserves 3 Leeds United Reserves 4
Boro 3 Leeds 4
A MASSIMO Maccarone hat-trick was not enough to prevent Boro going down to a disappointing defeat at home to ten-man Leeds United.
Young centre-back Matthew Bates made a spectacular start to his career at this level as he set up Boro's opener.
Leeds named a side crammed with household names, including former Boro and England favourite Nick Barmby.
But the West Yorkshire side soon found themselves a goal down as Boro's youngsters showed no signs of being intimidated by their more celebrated opponents.
The opening goal came on just four minutes after good work from Gary Liddle down the left forced Leeds to concede a corner.
A Stewart Downing delivery was flicked on from the right-hand edge of the six-yard box by Bates, with Massimo Maccarone controlling before impudently back-heeling the ball in from just inside the six-yard box.
It took Leeds just four minutes to equalise when Aaron Lennon capitalised on defensive hesitancy, the youngster rounding Brad Jones before sending over a low cross which the luckless Andrew Taylor sliced into his own net.
Gary Smith was instrumental in a neat build up for Boro's next goal as he played an incisive ball between two Leeds defenders.
Maccarone latched onto the delivery, curling in a shot-come-cross from just in from the right-hand edge of the penalty area, his effort taking a wicked deflection off central defender Michael Duberry with 12 minutes played.
A hugely-entertaining match almost brought another goal for Boro two minutes later when Leeds keeper Shaun Allaway went full length to save a Downing shot, with the rebound just out of the reach of Maccarone.
Allaway was again in action with 21 minutes played, diving to prevent a Craig Dove shot from going in. A minute later his opposite number saved smartly at his near post to stop a close range Cyril Chapuis shot from creeping in.
The action continued unabated when 30 seconds later Maccarone fired just wide from 16 yards.
It didn't take Boro long to increase their lead however. With 23 minutes played Criag Dove rose to head a right-wing cross goalwards and Maccarone tucked in from close range.
Minutes later Jones produced a fine save to tip a Jamie McMaster header over the bar.
From the set-piece the omnipresent Maccarone helped out in defence, heading brilliantly off the line to block Radebe's goalbound header from a corner.
There was more bad news for United when another former England man, Jason Wilcox, was red-carded after an angry lunge at young defender Andrew Taylor then a verbal blast at the linesman.
Brad Jones was then called into action to produce a great save from Michael Bridges' header.
Half-time: Boro 3 Leeds 1
Boro had a chance to increase their lead with their first attack of the second half, but Downing pulled his shot across the face of the goal after a superb through ball from Carlos Marinelli.
Downing came even closer on 53 minutes, sending a terrific half-volley inches wide from just outside the box.
Boro began to dominate the game with Smith and Gary Liddle outstanding in midfield and some excellent passing throughout the team.
Taylor then completed a raking run down the left with an accurate cross which Radebe did well to chest down and scramble to safety.
But Leeds had a chance to get back into the game when Barmby stormed into the box and before going down under the slightest of contacts from Bates.
Downing, denied a legitimate penalty on Sunday against Chelsea, told Barmby exactly what he thought of his theatrics.
Bridges made no mistake as he stroked the ball home from the spot to make it 3-2.
Leeds rallied briefly, but soon normal service was resumed as the chances continued to come thick and fast for Boro.
Substitute Danny Graham gave Duberry a scare with a rampaging run, then Dove should have scored after a neat set-up from Marinelli, but his shot was narrowly wide.
Bridges was then unlucky as his raking shot skimmed just over the bar, with some dispute as to whether Jones had got a vital touch.
But with 11 minutes on the clock the visitors claimed an equaliser as Frazer Richardson's long-range left-foot drive squeezed under Jones.
Shortly afterwards Bridges went into the book after a bad tackle on Bates, then things went from bad to worse as Leeds took the lead on 83 minutes.
McMaster's shot was well saved by Jones by sub Dominique Krief turned in the rebound.
With a minute remaining Marinelli sent in a great free-kick from the right but Downing's powerful first time volley sailed well over.
Keeper Jones then came up for a corner and nearly made contact, then Marinelli fired another shot over after being set up by Robbie Stockdale.
It was a good performance from Boro, but it ended with all the points going to West Yorkshire.
TEAMS
Middlesbrough: Jones; Stockdale, Taylor, Smith, Gulliver, Bates, Liddle, Dove (McMahon 73), Maccarone (Graham 65), Marinelli, Downing. Unused subs: Roberts (gk); Van Geele, Harrison.
Leeds United: Allaway; Richardson, Domi, McMaster, Radebe, Duberry, Lennon, Bridges (Winter 65), Chapuis (Krief 45), Barmby (Armstrong 65), Wilcox. Unused subs: McStay, Coyles.
Referee: Mr CW Oliver.
A MASSIMO Maccarone hat-trick was not enough to prevent Boro going down to a disappointing defeat at home to ten-man Leeds United.
Young centre-back Matthew Bates made a spectacular start to his career at this level as he set up Boro's opener.
Leeds named a side crammed with household names, including former Boro and England favourite Nick Barmby.
But the West Yorkshire side soon found themselves a goal down as Boro's youngsters showed no signs of being intimidated by their more celebrated opponents.
The opening goal came on just four minutes after good work from Gary Liddle down the left forced Leeds to concede a corner.
A Stewart Downing delivery was flicked on from the right-hand edge of the six-yard box by Bates, with Massimo Maccarone controlling before impudently back-heeling the ball in from just inside the six-yard box.
It took Leeds just four minutes to equalise when Aaron Lennon capitalised on defensive hesitancy, the youngster rounding Brad Jones before sending over a low cross which the luckless Andrew Taylor sliced into his own net.
Gary Smith was instrumental in a neat build up for Boro's next goal as he played an incisive ball between two Leeds defenders.
Maccarone latched onto the delivery, curling in a shot-come-cross from just in from the right-hand edge of the penalty area, his effort taking a wicked deflection off central defender Michael Duberry with 12 minutes played.
A hugely-entertaining match almost brought another goal for Boro two minutes later when Leeds keeper Shaun Allaway went full length to save a Downing shot, with the rebound just out of the reach of Maccarone.
Allaway was again in action with 21 minutes played, diving to prevent a Craig Dove shot from going in. A minute later his opposite number saved smartly at his near post to stop a close range Cyril Chapuis shot from creeping in.
The action continued unabated when 30 seconds later Maccarone fired just wide from 16 yards.
It didn't take Boro long to increase their lead however. With 23 minutes played Criag Dove rose to head a right-wing cross goalwards and Maccarone tucked in from close range.
Minutes later Jones produced a fine save to tip a Jamie McMaster header over the bar.
From the set-piece the omnipresent Maccarone helped out in defence, heading brilliantly off the line to block Radebe's goalbound header from a corner.
There was more bad news for United when another former England man, Jason Wilcox, was red-carded after an angry lunge at young defender Andrew Taylor then a verbal blast at the linesman.
Brad Jones was then called into action to produce a great save from Michael Bridges' header.
Half-time: Boro 3 Leeds 1
Boro had a chance to increase their lead with their first attack of the second half, but Downing pulled his shot across the face of the goal after a superb through ball from Carlos Marinelli.
Downing came even closer on 53 minutes, sending a terrific half-volley inches wide from just outside the box.
Boro began to dominate the game with Smith and Gary Liddle outstanding in midfield and some excellent passing throughout the team.
Taylor then completed a raking run down the left with an accurate cross which Radebe did well to chest down and scramble to safety.
But Leeds had a chance to get back into the game when Barmby stormed into the box and before going down under the slightest of contacts from Bates.
Downing, denied a legitimate penalty on Sunday against Chelsea, told Barmby exactly what he thought of his theatrics.
Bridges made no mistake as he stroked the ball home from the spot to make it 3-2.
Leeds rallied briefly, but soon normal service was resumed as the chances continued to come thick and fast for Boro.
Substitute Danny Graham gave Duberry a scare with a rampaging run, then Dove should have scored after a neat set-up from Marinelli, but his shot was narrowly wide.
Bridges was then unlucky as his raking shot skimmed just over the bar, with some dispute as to whether Jones had got a vital touch.
But with 11 minutes on the clock the visitors claimed an equaliser as Frazer Richardson's long-range left-foot drive squeezed under Jones.
Shortly afterwards Bridges went into the book after a bad tackle on Bates, then things went from bad to worse as Leeds took the lead on 83 minutes.
McMaster's shot was well saved by Jones by sub Dominique Krief turned in the rebound.
With a minute remaining Marinelli sent in a great free-kick from the right but Downing's powerful first time volley sailed well over.
Keeper Jones then came up for a corner and nearly made contact, then Marinelli fired another shot over after being set up by Robbie Stockdale.
It was a good performance from Boro, but it ended with all the points going to West Yorkshire.
TEAMS
Middlesbrough: Jones; Stockdale, Taylor, Smith, Gulliver, Bates, Liddle, Dove (McMahon 73), Maccarone (Graham 65), Marinelli, Downing. Unused subs: Roberts (gk); Van Geele, Harrison.
Leeds United: Allaway; Richardson, Domi, McMaster, Radebe, Duberry, Lennon, Bridges (Winter 65), Chapuis (Krief 45), Barmby (Armstrong 65), Wilcox. Unused subs: McStay, Coyles.
Referee: Mr CW Oliver.
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