Middlesbrough Reserves 2 Everton Reserves 0

ANOTHER goal from Danny Graham helped Boro Reserves get the better of Everton Reserves tonight, writes GORDON COX from Central Avenue.

It took a little while for Boro to settle by which time Christian Seargeant had twice caused problems down Everton's right hand side and James Harris had seen a 20-yard shot blocked.

But when their game came together Boro looked neat and organised. A good run from Danny Graham took him past three opponents, but his final ball was easily caught by John Ruddy.

A few minutes later the goalkeeper almost handed Boro a gift, as he dropped a right-wing cross and was grateful to central defender Sean Wright who headed an Adam Johnson chip off the line.

Appeals for a penalty were turned away the next time Boro pressed, but a stern challenge from behind on Johnson was deemed fair.

Long-range shots from Johnson and Lee Cattermole were blocked by Ruddy as the home side looked for a way through.

Controlled football from Boro, often involving Gary Liddle and Jason Kennedy, helped Boro to more than their fair share of possession, but they couldn't find a way through until the 35th minute.

Another neat move ended with good control and quick footwork from Danny Graham, who needed no second invitation to crack a low, angled drive beyond Ruddy from 10 yards to register his fourth goal in successive games.

A curling shot from Johnson had Ruddy at full stretch a few minutes later, while David Knight was called upon to make his first save as Everton broke.

But Boro's second was not long in coming as Adam Johnson cut in from the left through a crowd of bodies and, with the aid of a deflection, sent a left-footed shot beyond Ruddy from the D on the edge of the box.

A fine block from David Wheater on the edge of his penalty area prevented a low shot from Seargeant from troubling Knight as the visitors looked to reduce the arrears early in the second half.

A darting run from Johnson helped set up Tom Craddock as Boro went for another, but a powerful drive from the edge of the penalty area was rising as it cleared the crossbar.

However it was the visitors who created the better of the chances and enjoyed more possession and Alan Kearney twice wasted excellent chances to get a goal back.

Substitute Aiden Downs had Knight at full stretch in the closing stages, a low drive hitting the side netting but the Boro goalkeeper could take no chances.

Twice in the closing stages Everton went close again as Matthew Bates cleared off the line to deny Victor Anichebe, while the striker saw a powerful header deflected just wide less than a minute later.

Entering injury time Johnson almost beat Ruddy, but a low drive from the edge of the area was blocked by the goalkeeper at full stretch.

It was Boro's third win in four games.

Middlesbrough: Knight; Hines, Grounds, Cattermole, Bates, Wheater, Liddle (Thompson 82), Kennedy, Graham, Craddock (Owens 67), Johnson. Unused subs: Pennock (gk); Cooper, Burgess.

Everton: Ruddy; Wynne, Wilson, Wright, Hughes, Phelan, Seargeant, Harris, Hopkins (Downs 46), Anichebe, Kearney. Unused subs: Lake (gk); Boyle, Vidarsson, Holt. 

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