Boro Under-21s are up and running in the Premier League Cup after seeing off Ipswich Town at Heritage Park.
A fifth successive strike for Calum Kavanagh and Daniel Nkrumah’s late header means its three straight wins for Mark Tinkler’s side.
Tinkering with the line-up from last Friday’s 4-1 thrashing of Stoke City, the Boro U21s’ lead coach made four changes for the arrival of Ipswich Town.
Frankie Whelan, Nathan Simpson, Alex Gilbert and Sam Collins were all drafted into the starting XI as Tinkler looked for points on the board in the Premier League Cup.
It was a bright start from the home side, who could have been a goal to the good inside the opening 60 seconds.
Some slick one-touch passing between Gilbert, Simpson and Aidan Bridge fed through the onrushing Collins for a 1v1, forcing Woody Williamson into a strong early save before the linesman’s flag was raised.
With a chill in the air at Heritage Park, the young Teessiders were knocking it about nicely, Williamson again called into action to deny Simpson and Collins.
Boro’s quick thinking and intricate play caused the Tractor Boys all sorts of problems, Frankie Whelan flashed a header over the crossbar when meeting Bridge’s wicked free-kick.
While the Teessiders forced the issue, the away side were not without chances of their own; a long ball over the Boro backline saw Matty Roberts race clear, the shot falling down the throat of Nathan Fisher.
After almost taking the lead at one end, Ipswich were indebted to Williamson for the score remaining level, his left palm turning behind Gilbert’s fierce drive.
Tinkler’s charges were clearly in the ascendency, but parity still remained. Simpson was unable to slide home Collins’ whipped cross, Kavanagh turned goalwards inside the area and Bryant Bilongo attempted the spectacular.
With half an hour on the clock, Collins flashed wide following tireless work from Terrell Agyemang before Ipswich sprung an attack of their own, Ayubba Jambang’s deflected cross looping against the top of the woodwork.
And the crossbar was rattling for a second-time minutes later. Having given Boro a warning, Jambang again found space for a cutback, Nico Valentine striking the frame of the goal.
Boro, though, would have the goal their assured performance deserved, Nathan Simpson robbing his opponent of the ball and laying it off for Calum Kavanagh to convert into the corner.
As the game restarted, Valentine’s shot required Fisher’s sturdy hands to preserve the advantage. But Boro’s lead almost doubled when Gilbert intercepted a loose back pass, Williamson diverting it behind after narrowing the angle.
A lovely, sprayed pass from Bridge released Collins down the left channel, his thumping strike thwarted at the near post.
Ipswich continued to struggle with the pace and trickery of Boro’s widemen. This time it was Simpson leading the charge for a second, the winger’s cutback so nearly forcing an own goal.
Hitting Boro on the break, Sykes did enough to rush Osman Foyo into skewing wide - the forward testing the resolve of windscreens in the main car park when booting over the top of the west stand.
As the contest entered its final stages, the Tractor Boys threw caution to the wind and left themselves vulnerable. Kavanagh’s near-post finish was chalked off for offside and substitute Max Howells forced a corner with a vicious effort.
From the dead ball, Clarke rose highest to head at goal and, off the bench, Daniel Nkrumah applied the finish touching from mere yards out.
Next up for Boro U21s is the trip to east London at the end of the month, as we return to Premier League 2 action at West Ham United.
Boro: Fisher, Whelan, Bilongo, Bridge, Sykes, Clarke, Simpson (Howells), Agyemang, Kavanagh, Gilbert (Nkrumah), Collins.
Unused subs: Connor, Traore, McCabe.
Ipswich Town: Williamson, Jambang, Barbrook, Ayoola, O’Connor, Carr (Okunowo), Valentine, Foyo, Baubo (Boatswain), Roberts, Ayinde (Lavin).
Unused subs: Gray.