Boro Under-21s were beaten 3-1 in the Premier League 2 against Chelsea, with Charlie Lennon getting the only goal of the game for Boro.
A Jimmy Morgan hattrick was enough for to seal all three points for the visitors at Heritage Park, despite a goal on the stroke of half time for Lennon.
The first chance of the game came for the visitors, Morgan found space in the box to bring down a lofted pass and strike an effort goalwards but it went just wide of the post.
With quarter of an hour played, Morgan found the back of the net for the home side. The Chelsea striker found space inside the box and poked his effort into the bottom corner.
Minutes later Morgan got his and Chelsea’s second of the game. Tyrique George burst down the left wing before drilling a low cross into the path of Morgan who placed it hiome.
Boro had a chance of their own, after Lennon brought the ball down in superb style on the halfway line and proceeded to drive at the Chelsea back lin, before offloading a pass to Rio Patterson-Powell who couldn’t direct his shot on target.
Lennon did pull one back just on the stroke of half time for Boro. A deflected effort fell into the path of the winger who struck a lovely curling effort into the back of the net.
: Connor, Simpson, Samuels, Lindo, Hunt, Cartwright, Lennon, McCabe, Bakre, Stott (Matthews 70'), Patterson-Powell (Coulson 70')
Subs: Myers-Smith, Tawiah, Matthews, Coulson, Fisher
: Merrick, Acheampong, Murray-Campbell, Wilson, Samuels-Smith (Olise 72'), McMahon, Ampah (Silcott-Duberry 72'), Dyer, Morgan (McNally 70'), Mkeuka (Russell-Denny 79'), George
Subs: Russell-Denny, Akomeah, McNally, Silcott-Duberry, Olise
Shea Connor was called into action early in the second half. Shimmy Mkeuka twisted and turned his way past the Boro defenders, but an onrushing Connor denied the forward.
The Blues did add a third moments later, Ishe Samuels Smith drove down the wing and cut the ball back to Morgan who struck his effort home to complete his hattrick.
Boro had the ball in the back of the net, when Ajay Matthews played Hazeem Bakre through on goal and the forward clamly slotted it past the keeper but the linesman had his flag raised to deny Bakre.
Mark Tinkler's side kept pushing for a way back into the game. Law McCabe picked the ball up in a promising area and whipped a low ball across the face of goal but Max Merrick delt claimed the ball.
This was to be the last of the action as the away side claimed all three points.
