Middlesbrough dropped their first points of the season away at the experienced Tranmere Victoria in the early kick off at the Greenbank Sports Academy and drop to fourth place with four teams all on six points.

Boro started brightly, but conceded first as Saif Al-Harthi deflected a lofted ball over his own ‘keeper’s head. Within a minute they were 2-0 down, but an own goal from Tranmere’s Ryan Williams put Boro right back in the game. Tranmere’s third came from a well worked move, but Boro were once again too slow to close down the shot, untypically of Boro, whose defence has been their strongest aspect so far this season. Kilbride could have got one back, but hit both posts with a well worked free kick just before half time.

A quick fire treble from Tranmere at the start of the second half all but put the game beyond Middlesbrough. Two yellow cards in the space of a minute for Mikey Roberts left Middlesbrough looking desperate at 6-1 down with four players. Tranmere kept possession for two minutes, running down the clock and with 11 minutes remaining Shaw called a time out.

Bulmer came back on to replace Boswell in goal and Boro went all out attack with Bulmer being the most advanced. A dangerous tactic as the goal is left unguarded, but Tranmere’s long range efforts were all wide of the target. Bulmer set up Bettson to start the comeback and scored himself seconds later after Immy Rashid played a ball across the goal. Boro had Tranmere in their sights and Bettson struck from distance for Boro’s fourth, set up again by Rashid.

It was, however, too little too late as Tranmere played the clock down where possible and although Boro had the chances to level, it wasn’t to be. Shaw was disappointed with the performance until the last ten minutes, which were a positive and will bode well for the rest of the season.

“We lost the game today. We didn’t defend well and weren’t sharp going forward. We were 6-1 down before we started to play well. When we went with a flying goalkeeper we were dangerous and worked it really well. We just didn’t have enough to get back into the game.”

When asked if it’s an important result for the title race, Shaw disagreed. “Tranmere will drop points, as will all the teams at the top, it’s a very tight league. We’re only three matches into the season and there could be five teams on six points tonight! We’ve got a lot more to come, we’re still not playing well and if somebody offered us six points after three games before the season started I would have taken it. I think Tranmere will be happy that they caught us on an off day as they didn’t look like title contenders today.”

Boro have a week off before travelling away to Grimsby, but most of the squad will be in action for Teesside University next weekend in the BUCS Championships.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com