Liverpool Reserves 2 Boro Reserves 3

TOM CRADDOCK was the two-goal hero in an excellent Boro win as Abel Xavier made his return to action after a year out of the game, reports NATHAN JUDAH from the Racecourse Ground.

Young striker Craddock continued his eye-catching form as he grabbed a goal either side of half-time as well as setting up the third for fellow forward Danny Graham.

Xavier slotted in at right-back, with skipper Tony McMahon moving to the left-hand side. England youth forward Jonathan Franks made his first Reserve start of the season, while Tom Craddock and Danny Graham were paired together up front.

Both sides started brightly, with Graham Owens looking particularly dangerous down the left.

It was Liverpool who had the first chance of the game when Paul Anderson was put through on goal as McMahon allowed him to square the ball to the unmarked Craig Lindfield but the striker could not connect properly when a goal looked certain.

Boro opened up again shortly afterwards thanks to a superbly weighted through ball from Dannie Guthrie. He found Lindfield who in turn picked out Nabil El Zhar, but he somehow missed a tap in from two yards out.

It was Boro who went ahead against the run of play in the 24th minute. Defender Seb Hines' beautifully flighted 40-yard ball found Owens in space down the left. The Academy scholar duly beat his man and squared the ball to Craddock, who made no mistake form four-yards out.

However, the home side were level two minutes later.

Besian Idrizaj found his way into the Boro penalty box and was eventually felled by McMahon.

The striker picked himself and took the spot kick, only to see it brilliantly saved by Ross Turnbull. Unfortunately the Boro keeper could only palm the ball away and Idirijaz put the ball away at the second time of asking.

Moments later Austrian starlet Idirijaz clattered into the back of McMahon, forcing the Boro man to leave the field and take no further part in the game.

He was replaced by Jonathan Grounds.

The sides came out for the second half amid a deluge of rain and it was Boro who took full advantage in the 52nd minute.

Owens continued where he left off in the first half and slid an excellent ball through to Craddock. The youngster ran right at the heart of the Merseysiders and struck a low, right-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner, giving keeper David Martin no chance.

And it was Craddock who turned provider just a minute later. The striker broke free of the Liverpool defence and unselfishly square the ball to Danny Graham, who tapped the ball into the unguarded net to make it 3-1.

But Liverpool hit back with a third goal in three minutes. El Zhar crossed for Lindfield, who produced a spectacular overhead kick which Turnbull could only help into the side of the net.

Craddock was sensationally denied his hat-trick when sub keeper David Roberts produced a magnificent save when he looked odds on to score.

It was Turnbull's chance to excel later when he saved well from Guthrie's 20-yard piledriver.

Liverpool searched for a late leveller when Robbie Threlfall's 25-yard screamer cannoned back off the post, with Turnbull well beaten.

The Reds continued to bombard forward in the final minutes but the Boro defence, well marshalled by the excellent Hines, held on to secure all three points.

Liverpool: Martin (Roberts 61), Peltier (Threlfall 67), Smith, Roque, Hobbs, Mannix, El Zhar, Guthrie, Lindfield (Hamill 75), Idrizaj, Anderson. Subs not used: Flynn, Antwi.

Boro: Turnbull, McMahon (Grounds 32), Bates, Hines, Xavier, Franks (Goulon 75), Walker, Kennedy, Owens, Craddock, Graham. Subs not used: Steele, Honeyman, Johnson J.

Man of the Match: Graham Owens

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