BORO TOO STRONG

22-Jul-2009

A 1,200-strong crowd, including several hundred Boro fans, enjoyed an entertaining if one-sided match as the English full-timers dominated.

Despite brave defending by Sons, they found it hard to cope with players of the level of Jeremie Aliadiere, and the visitors were 3-0 up at half-time, the last of the three being a penalty.

After the break the pattern continued, but thanks to some heroics from Sons substitute keeper, young Michael White, they were restricted to only two more goals for a 5-0 win.

Before the game Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate, the former England player, presented a basket of white flowers to Kelly, fiancee of the late Gordon Lennon, and both teams wore black armbands as a mark of respect to the skipper who died in a tragic offroad accident.

This was the last of the pre-season friendly games.