Middlesbrough Resevers 3 Halifax Town 0

By Highroadwellian
August 8 2003

Middlesbrough had the better of the opening stages and along with help from an "offside-dyslexic" linesman controlled the half. The officials should be sponsored by "Specsavers" like they are in Scotland. Then if they can't see, they might get a free pair.

Preseason Match Report

August 5th First Half 8 mins Shot from Killeen saved by keeper Russell bottom right. 15 mins Shot always going high and wide left, by Midgley after good work from Lee and Bushell. 16 mins 0-1 Cade received a very long through ball, his pace took him wide and right, beat Davies with an acute well placed shot. 24 mins Good save by Davies from Cade, who was miles offside and not flagged by the Linesman. 26 mins First Town corner taken and squandered behind by Midgley. 29 mins Middlesbrough cross from right headed over by Downing. 31 mins Nice one-two work from Lee and Killeen, ball to Hudson who's shot is saved. 34 mins Speculative shot from distance by Downing, easy save for Davies. 39 mins Good work by Elam and Lee produces second corner, wasted again. 41 mins 0-2 Cade (the England U21 International) received through ball from Wilson after a defence splitting pass by Morrison, although he is very pacey, he looked offside, finds himself in space beats Davies bottom left. 44 mins Shot by Johnson parried for a corner by Davies. 45 mins Free kick taken by Midgley spooned header wide by Lee. Second Half 47 mins Lee fouled in the D of the penalty area by Davies. Midgley free kick rolled to Cullen, shot blocked. 50 mins Hudson shoots wide after a good 1-2 with Elam on the left. 55 mins Shot by Smith centre of goal well held by Davies. 61 mins 0-3 Morrison shot lokked to be going wide, but deflected off Monington's knee into the Town goal. Town are dejected. 72 mins Lee made the ball work to Elam inside box, but defender just edges the ball away. 74 mins Shot over from Cullen, from outside area. Town starting to spark after bringing on Farrell. 84 mins Midgley shot saved easily by keeper. Middlesbroughs defence was always on top throughout the game. Their second half central pairing of Quedrude and Davies looked strong. Town played 21 players, on what was a hot summer evening. Hockenhull, Hudson, Cullen, Lee, Farrell, and Hindley looked quite useful and covered a lot of the park. Town's best spell was 15 mins mid second half. Parke himself looked like a very tired pit pony. He needs to get fit quickly. Halifax Town 0 Davies (Turner 62), Hockenhull (Senior 72), Sandwith (McAuley 64), Bushell (Cullen 45), Monington (Stoneman 76), Garnett (Quinn 62), Midgley, Hudson (Farrell 62), Lee (Parke 76), Killeen (Mallon 45), Elam (Hindley (76). Middlesbrough Reserves 3 (Cade 2, Morrison) Russell (Turnbull 45), Close, Quedrude, Gulliver (Harrison 75), Davies, Smith (Nordgreen (64), Morrison, Wilson, Cade, Johnson, Downing. Attendance 1221