New signing Mo hits hat-trick as Boro power to 8-0 opening pre-season friendly win at Tadcaster

Both new signings got on the scoresheet, and four trialists had run-outs as Jono Greening’s side dictated play throughout on a lovely afternoon in West Yorkshire.

Playing slick, passing football, Boro raced into an early 4-0 lead, the impressive Harry Green having a hand in all four goals.

Green burst down the left, passed inside to Rio Allan, who laid off for Alex Wiles to fire into the bottom right corner, then a Green shot was blocked by Thierry Eastwood, but Allan slammed in the rebound.

Next Green passed into the path of Lewis Maloney, who drilled into the top right corner, and the fourth goal came from another Green run down the left, as he passed to Luca Colville, whose ball across the goalmouth was tapped home by new signing Luke Hall.

Boro were rampant, Maloney curled a free-kick into the chest of keeper Ally Hughes, Allan rounded the keeper, but his shot was cleared off the line by Spencer Harris, Maloney fired against the left-hand post, and a Colville shot was blocked by Shephard.

Tadcaster enjoyed a good spell, with Shephard, George Brown and Aaron Pilkington all shooting over, while Jake Hull won a couple of important defensive headers, Alex Brown made some strong tackles, and Ryan Whitley dived at the feet of Dez Okoro as he ran onto a through-ball from Cole Roberts.

Just before the interval Boro’s trialist right-back fired over, but they went 5-0 up when Allan latched onto a Green through-ball and neatly fired past the keeper.

After numerous substitutions, the second half was slightly more competitive, but Boro remained in control.

The trialist central midfielder made an instant impact, twice having shots blocked and also striking the right-hand post, while new signing Mo Fadera went on some pacy runs down the left flank.

A Colville strike was blocked by Okoro, then Trialist C headed over from an Alex Purver corner.

At the other end, Boro’s trialist keeper twice saved at the feet of Jayden Thomson, and one of the Tadcaster trialists dragged a shot wide.

A brilliant surging run from Colville led to Boro’s sixth goal, when he got into the box and squared to Fadera, who had an easy tap-in.

Two minutes later Fadera latched onto a Colville through-ball and slotted past keeper Alfie Burnett.

Colville was now running the show, and another through-ball sent Fadera clear, but this time he blazed over, but Fadera completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after being fouled in the area.

Luca Stuttard then struck the post with the last kick of the game.

TADCASTER - Hughes, Davey, Pilkington, Shephard, Harris, Eastwood, G.Brown, Thompson, Okoro, Owen (c), Roberts, subs used - Burnett (GK), Peltier, Brookes, Johnson, Binns, Cassana, 2 trialists.

BORO - Whitley (Trialist D), Trialist A, A.Brown, Hull, Colville, Purver (c), Wiles (Trialist B), Maloney (Tear), Allan (Stuttard), Hall (Trialist C), Green (Fadera).

REFEREE - Gareth Rhodes.

BORO GOALS - Alex Wiles 4, Rio Allan 12, 44, Lewis Maloney 15, Luke Hall 17, Mo Fadera 75, 77, 87 (pen).

GOAL ATTEMPTS - TADCASTER 5 (0 on target) BORO 24 (13 on target).

CORNERS - TADCASTER 0 BORO 4.

OFFSIDES - TADCASTER 1 BORO 3.

BORO MAN OF MATCH - Luca Colville.