BORO Reserves played out a 1-1 draw in their final home game of the season against Manchester City, writes SAM LOUGHRAN at the Riverside.

The game started at a slow pace with Boro edging the midfield battle, Gaizka Mendieta and Herold Goulon keeping play tidy in the centre of the park.

Spanish midfielder Mendieta found himself in space 25 yards from the City goal after six minutes and proceeded to curl an effort that bounced up in front of Andreas Isaksson, who gathered at the second attempt.

Jonathan Franks latched onto a long Rhys Williams ball over the top of the visitors' defence and broke deep into the penalty area where he dragged the ball back for Nathan Porritt, whose persistence paid off before he lashed a right-footed effort over the crossbar from 15 yards.

Manchester City responded brightly and profited from a mis-placed Stephen Thompson pass that eventually found Paul Marshall 25 yards from goal. He unleashed a swerving effort that saw Jason Steele make a smart, full-stretch save.

With 15 minutes played Thompson picked the ball up midway through the City half and drove towards goal and after holding off three City advances, struck a stinging shot just wide of Isaksson's left post.

Steve Agnew's side settled quickly and passed the ball about with style and confidence, although without really troubling the Swede's goal.

Boro had a penalty shout just after the half hour when good build up work found Tom Craddock in an advanced position in the opposition area. He showed quick feet and fired a shot across goal only for Clayton McDonald to block with his shoulder, not his arm.

City burst back and Adam Clayton saw his 20-yard effort curl inches wide of the post after it had beaten a diving Steele.

Once again it was Mendieta who was pulling the strings in the midfield and started the move that he very nearly finished, but his low effort flew past Isaksson and unfortunately from his point of view, the left-hand post as well.

Boro continued to dominate and nearly crafted an opportunity after good play down the left saw Mendieta burst through but he was quickly brought down by McDonald and the City centre-half was booked for his troubles.

The resultant free-kick saw the former Barcelona and Lazio man whip it in right-footed from the left of the area which bounced in the six yard box and was subsequently pounced upon by Isaksson on the line.

Moments later Boro expertly defended a Manchester City corner as Williams thumped yet another header clear and set Mendieta on the counter charge.

After running half the length of the pitch Mendieta fed Porritt inside the area, but he was quickly closed down and the visitors survived another Boro attack.

With only a minute remaining of the half, a City corner from the left saw McDonald rise highest and his header forced a great save from Steele only for Clayton to prod home the rebound inside the six-yard box to give the visitors an undeserved lead going into the break.

Half Time: Middlesbrough 0 Manchester City 1

Boro made two changes at half time with Richard Smallwood and Ashley Corker replacing Goulon and Thompson respectively.

City almost doubled their advantage only two minutes into the second half as Steele, under pressure from Alex Nimley, saw his clearance charged down, sending the ball trickling towards the goal only for Williams to clear the off the line and spare his keeper's blushes.

Mendieta continued to show his class in the centre of midfield, spraying passes all over the pitch and stretching the City defence on numerous occasions.

As the hour-mark passed Boro continued to press, forcing two corners and putting the visitors firmly on the back foot.

Middlesbrough were deservedly back on level terms on 70 minutes when Tom Craddock's enthusiasm finally paid off. He timed his run to perfection after a cleverly floated free kick from Mendieta, volleying his shot high into the net past Isaksson to give the home side an equaliser.

Boro continued to press in a bid to round off their home campaign with victory but couldn't quite find the breakthrough as Mendieta, Franks and Craddock all came close.

With ten minutes remaining of the game, Franks' trickery on the right saw him burst into the penalty area and flash the ball across the face of goal, but somehow managed to evade everyone arriving in the box.

Boro continued to create and almost took the lead on 85 minutes as Franks burst through and hit his shot on the half-volley 15 yards inside the City area, forcing Isaksson into an acrobatic diving save.

The result means Manchester City have secured the point they needed to pip Manchester United to second place in the league.

Boro looked strong throughout, with the central defensive pairing of Williams and Jonathan Grounds particularly impressive and the Teessiders were unlucky not to come away with all three points.

Teams

Middlesbrough: Steele; J Johnson, Williams, Grounds (Capt), Bennett; Franks, Goulon (Smallwood 46), Mendieta, Thompson (Corker 46); Porritt (Saiko 68), Craddock. Unused subs: Filler (gk); Furness.

Manchester City: Isaksson; Obeng, Williamson, Marshall, McDonald, M Daly, Clayton, Mouritsen, Nimley (Poole 70), Bojinov (I Daly 78), Moore. Unused subs: Martin (gk); Ramsey, Cunningham.

Referee: Mr P Curry.

Bookings
Middlesbrough: J Johnson, Williams.

Manchester City: None

Conditions: Bright and sunny with a light breeze

Attendance: 174

Website Boro Man of the Match: Gaizka Mendieta