Boro Earn Black Cats Tie
Redbridge 0 Middlesbrough 3
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THREE second-half goals eased holders Middlesbrough through to the fourth round of this season's FA Youth Cup tonight, writes GORDON COX from Oakside.
The win, coupled with one for Sunderland at home to Leicester, sets up a local derby in the fourth round at the Riverside.
Neither side created too much by way of direct chances in the opening 45 minutes, though Boro enjoyed the majority of possession.
The Motormen had the game's first chance however, striker Charlie Parker heading just over from eight yards.
A quick break involving Tom Craddock and Josh Walker set up Jason Kennedy for Boro's first chance, a low 20-drive comfortably saved by Sam Bird.
Kennedy was the next to threaten, managing to dig out a shot from the edge of the area which edged wide.
A quick thrown from Jonathan Grounds was flicked on by Adam Johnson when Boro next pressed, Craddock bundling his way through before shooting just wide.
Johnson then beat two on a good run which took him inside the area, but he elected to shoot from what proved to be too narrow an angle with others better placed waiting to his right.
A sharp effort from England U16 captain Josh Walker had Bird moving smartly to gather.
David Wheater was solid at the back, each time the home side threatened he was there to cover, supported by captain Matthew Bates.
It took a good challenge from Wheater to block Parker before a right-wing cross from Danny Reed was met with a misdirected header from Craddock.
It didn't take Boro long to cut loose in the second half in front of Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, here to watch his cousin unused substitute Clyde Roberts.
With four minutes of the second half played neat play on the edge of the Redbridge penalty area set up Adam Johnson who placed a left-footed shot perfectly in Bird's right-hand corner.
Sixty one minutes had elapsed when Reed cut in from the left-hand edge of the Redbridge penalty area and shot for goal, Tom Craddock turning the ball in from seven yards.
Boro almost made it three just a minute later. A low shot from Reed hit Bird's left-hand post and captain Dean Neville cleared Johnson's follow-up off the line.
Johnson and Kennedy both had long-range shots saved by Bird, but it wasn't long before Boro did add a third, Tom Craddock riflinga left-footed shot across Bird from the right-hand edge of the area.
Wheater nearly added a fourth against the Essex-based side, a powerful header well saved by Bird before the loose ball was scrambled clear.
Boro applied pressure as they looked to end the game in style, but three was enough to get the better of plucky opponents.
TEAMS:
Redbridge: Bird; Neville, Chapman, Skerrit, Dinnen, Scotter (McCarthy 65), Elbi, Davies, Parker, Lynch (St. Hilaire 65), Luck. Unused subs: Erback; Roberts, Cornwall.
Middlesbrough: Knight (Roberts 75); Clough (Burgess 74), Grounds, Bates (Capt.), Wheater, Kennedy, Reed (Robson 74), Owens, Craddock, Walker, A Johnson. Unused subs: J Johnson, Hall.
Attendance: 492
