Club NI claimed a fine 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough at Broughshane on Wednesday morning thanks to goals from Conor Bradley and Vicky Saldanha.
It was Declan Devines’ side that got off to the better start as on four minutes Saldanha linked up well with Stephen McGuiness before his effort was well saved by Boro keeper Oliver Swann. Swann then came to his sides rescue as on eight minutes when Matthew Lusty was played through on goal but he was denied by the fine reactions of the Middlesbrough keeper.
However Middlesbrough took the lead on 16 minutes when Harry Healy took advantage of slack defending to round Callum Taylor in the Club NI goal to fire the ball into the net with ease.
This gave Paul Collins side a new-found belief, and they could have had their second minutes later when Sam Collins played in Mckenzie Dicicco before his rasping drive was well kept out by a low Taylor save to his left.
Club NI then thought they had the leveller on 24 minutes as the impressive Josh Archer crossed for Lusty but he slid his effort just wide of the target.
Saldanha was really impressing the crowd with some fantastic skill and he thought he had grabbed a well-deserved equaliser for Devines’ side as he flicked his header just wide.
However they did grab their equaliser just on the stroke of halftime as Bradley chipped the ball over Swann and into the net to the delight of the local supporters.
Middlesbrough started the second half well as Terry Stephenson drove forward before his effort stung the palms of Taylor on 47 minutes.
Stephenson was impressing with his constant running at the Club NI defence and he created the next opening for the Teesiders as his floated in cross found Healy in space before he scuffed his effort wide of the target.
Club NI then came close to taking the lead as McGuiness found himself in an acre of space before he whistled his effort just over the crossbar.
Devines’ side were to take the lead late on through Saldanha he drove through the Boro bodies before his effort took a heavy deflection leaving Swann stranded in goal.
On the stroke of the final whistle Middlesbrough were close to levelling as Jonathan Krakue linked up well with Hayden Hackney before he saw his powerful drive hit the post beating Taylor all ends up.
Credit, Joshua Bunting @Distillerymad