Both teams started their 2008/9 pre-season campaign by providing a very competitive, entertaining encounter for the big crowd – and whilst some of the defending was unsurprisingly a bit fluffy, and some of the finishing was understandably a bit wasteful, some of the football played in the middle of the park was top quality - neat, tidy and incisive and good to watch.

United's performance matched the weather at a wet but latterly sunny Rotsea Lane - it improved as the afternoon went on and they certainly enjoyed the better of a lively attacking second half. Perhaps they would sooner forget bits of a rusty opening period for in a three minute spell they conceded a trio of goals to a lively Boro' front line courtesy of Rich Medcalf (36), Dave Thompson (37), and Rob Ellis (39) as their defence went awol in all directions.

However, showing real fighting spirit, they responded to pull back two goals just on the break by Tom Cooper (44) and Mike Tate (46) to remind their esteemed opponents they had a scrap on their hands.
And it was as the game flowed from end to end. Two goals in as many minutes as the second half opened saw 'Boro push further in front but Cooper was again in the mix to keep United in touch at 4-3.

The new home side midfield pairing of Steve Skinns and Darren Parker gelling with authority, one holding, one probing, created chances for United to attack with purpose and substitute winger Cooper revelled in the service to grab a deserved hat-trick - his trickery and pace caused lots of confusion in the visiting defence and his finishing was top class too. He pulled it all square by clipping home a penalty on 66 minutes after a pretty clumsy tackle gave excellent referee Mark Brown no option but to point to the spot.

Late on keeper Adam Nicholson produced a brilliant save to thwart 'Boro and keep things even , but overall it proved an excellent opportunity for both sides to 'get into the groove' and they took it by putting on a really good display for the fans that came along.

United squad: Adam Nicholson, Danny Mackevych, Andy Dixon, Paul Taylor, Steve Etherington, James O'Connor, Darren Parker, Steve Skinns, Mike Tate, Mark Davies(c), Ryan Cairns. Subs: Tom Cooper, Jimmy Syme, Dean Taylor, Mark Frampton, Gary Cawthorne, Dale Darling, Matt Dixon. Scorers; Cooper 44, 48, 66; Tate 45. Referee Mark Brown (Hull). Attendance 242