Match Report: Boro U21s 2 Aston Villa U21s 3

Boro Under-21s face a tough ask in grasping a Premier League 2 play-off place after a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa.

Twice hitting the front at Heritage Park, Mark Tinkler’s youngsters were undone by a second-half penalty as Villa left the north-east with the points.

Following a late equaliser against Norwich City last time out, Tinkler ringed the changes with Henry Popple, Cain Sykes, Isiah Cornet and Jeremy Sivi all thrown in from the off.

Bright Boro raced out the traps at Heritage Park, pinning Villa back into their own half.

The frightening pace of our frontline almost proved fruitful within the opening two minutes. Good build-up play allowed Jeremy Sivi to race away down the left, though some alert defending proved enough to snuff out the danger.

Having given the away side a stern warning, Tinkler’s charges benefitted from another surging run forward. This time, Sonny Finch was given green grass to drive into before the Boro frontman laid the ball off for Sivi to hit first time.

His shot was well parried by Villa ‘keeper Oli Zych but the rebound fell perfectly into the path of Fenton John, who made no mistake by hammering the ball home from close range.

It was one-way traffic from the home side. Sivi had a penalty appeal waved away before flashing an effort wide off the post and from the other flank Finch found the side-netting after a darting drive into the area.

Against the run of play, Chisom Afoka found the net for the away side, sliding the ball into the corner after Popple had stood tall to deny Arjan Raikhy.

It was to be the first of three goals inside a hectic five minutes at Heritage Park as Sivi prodded home to convert Finch’s cutback, yet Rory Wilson hit back at the other end.

At the end of a boisterous first 45, Stott twice went close with efforts just over the post and the crossbar.

Isiah Cornet made way for AJ Bridge as the game resumed with Boro starting on the front foot again. Jack Stott rattled the post and Finch fired down the throat of Zych.

Villa had won six of their last seven heading into Monday evening’s fixture and hit the front from the spot. Kadan Young was adjudged to have been felled in the area and captain Seb Revan stepped up to slot into the bottom left corner.

Boro were presented with a golden opportunity to level after Finch forced another save from Zych but Sivi was unable to keep his shot on target.

With 20 minutes to play Tinkler welcomed Isaac Fletcher back from injury, for his first appearance since October, and when Finch was fouled on the edge of the box, the midfielder pulled rank to send a free-kick narrowly over.