JULIO ARCA played for 72 minutes and Robert Huth the full 90, but Boro Reserves were beaten by Sunderland tonight, writes GORDON COX from Eppleton CW.

There was an open feel to the game from the start, with Boro just about edging it in terms of possession.

But chances were at a premium and Josh Walker was annoyed to waste one, his 20-yard shot landing on the roof the house positioned just behind one goal of the tidy little ground.

Sunderland, attacking the end housing a café bar named after Bob Paisley, made progress down Boro's left when the ball just out of the possession of Joe Bennett.

Martyn Waghorn sped into the penalty area and beat Jason Steele with a low cross, but Boro's defence was back in numbers and dealt comfortably with the threat.

Boro were next to press and Stephen Thompson fired inches over after a powerful run had taken him into the Sunderland penalty area.

A crunching tackle from former Boro star Graham Kavanagh brought the game's first booking, though Walker got up quickly and made no fuss of the incident.

On 25 minutes, shortly after missing a clear chance, Dwight Yorke, put Sunderland ahead.

The home side went further ahead seven minutes from the break as Robbie Weir sent over a low cross from the right. Steele stopped Roy O'Donovan's first shot superbly, but was stranded as the follow-up effortlessly found the roof of the net.

Herold Goulon went within inches of reducing the arrears a couple of minutes later, a fierce, angled drive just up from the left-hand edge of the penalty area flashing narrowly off target.

Less than a minute into the second half Boro broke quickly with Ben Hutchinson racing into the penalty area before pulling a low ball back to Walker, whose low shot from the edge of the box struck the inside of Trevor Carson's right-hand post and rebounded away to safety.

Waghorn almost added to his growing reputation as play swung to the other end, but he shot just wide from the left-hand edge of the Boro box.

But it was Boro who were the better side in the second period, with Thompson causing all kinds of problems and Carson producing two excellent stops to thwart Hutchinson.

Kavanagh curled a low shot towards goal, but Steele, positioned well, had little difficulty in handling.

Back came Boro and Hutchinson again was denied by Carson. It just wasn't his, or Boro's, night.

In the final minute Franks raced through just to the left of centre and fired in a low shot which Carson did well to save, while Walker sent the rebound over the bar.

Teams

Sunderland: Carson; Weir, Hartley, Kavanagh, Donoghue, Pelter, O'Donovan, Yorke (Henderson 62), Connolly, Waghorn, Murphy (Dowson 62). Unused subs: Richardson, Chandler, Kay.

Middlesbrough: Steele; Hines, Bennett, Goulon (Smallwood 83), Grounds (Capt), Huth, Walker, Arca (J Johnson 72), Thompson (Franks 72), Hutchinson, Owens. Unused subs: Atkinson (gk); Corker.

Bookings

Sunderland: Kavanagh, 19, foul; Donoghue, 66, foul; Waghorn, 73.

Middlesbrough: Owens, 89, dissent.

Attendance: 826

Conditions: Cold and very windy.

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