Boro claim Dave Holland Trophy after victory over Brid

Boro made a dream start to their return to Queensgate, moving two goals to the good in double-quick time.

Firstly Josh Lacey marauded onto a cross to the back post and volleyed sweetly past Brid keeper Tom Jackson.

Boro then used the same approach for a second time, producing the same outcome. On this occasion Kev Burgess was picked out on the far post, he headed into the path of central defensive partner Ross Killock, who stroked home.

After a scare at the other end, when keeper Tom Morgan was delighted to see a Shaq McKenzie drive fizz over the bar, Boro set about adding to their tally.

Jackson saved well from Nathan Valentine after he had palmed a cross into his path, then the Brid custodian grasped a powerful Bailey Gooda header that looked to be arrowing into the back of the net.

James Walshaw worked some room in the box, his shot shuddering the angle of post and bar before bouncing to safety.

Boro were not alone in creating chances, with Jake Day having the best of Brid's in the first half. The former Athletic striker grazing the upright with a header that had Morgan beaten.

Nathan Valentine seemed to have wound up the Brid central midfielders in the closing moments of the half, finding himself in a Terry Barwick headlock and then being clattered by former Hull City man Nathan Doyle. Both earning themselves a lengthy talking to from the referee.

The beginning of the second half started in similar fashion to the first, with Boro finding the net.

This time it was Walshaw, who wriggled free and volleyed a low effort that gave Jackson no hope.

The changes were rung after this, with Wayne Brooksby, Michael Coulson, Jackson Jowett, Matty Dixon and Leon Scott all coming on.

Boro should have added further to their tally after a sharp move involving Brooksby, Jowett, Coulson and Annan, but the latter lifted over the bar with the keeper stranded on the deck.

Brid then had the perfect opportunity to break their duck for the evening when McKenzie found himself free of the Boro defence with Morgan in no-man's-land.

McKenzie looked to have looped the ball delightfully home, but it struck the post and bounced back into the grateful arms of the Athletic keeper.

Scott presented Brid with another chance when Andy Norfolk nipped onto his back-pass, but the Boro man steamed back in to poke the ball off his toe.

There was still time for Coulson to collect a poor goal-kick, lift it brilliantly over the keeper, but frustratingly the ball bounced down off the bar.