BORO'S hopes of returning to the top of the Barclays Premier Reserve League were crushed as they were comprehensively beaten and had defender John Johnson sent off against Liverpool last night, writes MIKE McGEARY.

The bonus was the completion of 90 minutes for Julio Arca, who took the chance to regain more vital match fitness just over 24 hours after playing his part as a sub in the first team's 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Riverside, but Seb Hines picked up a hamstring injury.

Boro were just one down at the break, but this was much to do with spirited defending and timely interventions as Liverpool were much the better side. But for a series of excellent stops from goalkeeper Matty Atkinson the scoreline would have been even greater.

A team constituting mainly foreign nationals ran riot after the break, but it was a home grown product who ran the show. Just a couple of weeks past his 19th birthday, Wirral-born midfielder Jay Spearing, captain of the Liverpool side that won the FA Youth Cup last season, rattled in two goals and was the best player on the field.

The game was played on a decent surface at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, home of the Warrington Wolves Rugby League FC.

Coach Steve Agnew handed a first start to James Cronesberry at left wing-back, with several regulars missing due to Boro's FA Youth Cup third round tie at the Riverside later this week.

Liverpool missed a glorious chance to take the lead after just six minutes when Hungarian striker Krisztian Nemeth - no relation to former Boro forward Szilard - slotted the ball wide from eight yards with only Atkinson to beat after a fortuitous deflection into his path.

There was a nasty moment for Herold Goulon look-alike Damien Plessis when he took an Arca pass painfully below the belt but he was able to resume shortly afterwards.

A lovely ball over top from Stephen Thompson released Ben Hutchinson as Boro got more into the game, but a debatable offside flag put an end to the chance.

However, the deadlock was broken on 16 minutes as Liverpool's Paraguayan defender Ronald Huth controlled a right-wing corner before rifling the ball into the roof of the net.

It could have been worse for Boro four minutes later when great work from Jonathan Grounds prevented a certain goal from Jordy Brouwer.

Atkinson kept his side in the game with two excellent blocks with his legs and another parrying save in quick succession as the home team piled on the pressure before Graeme Owens was booked for encroaching at a free-kick on 24 minutes.

Thompson was next to save Boro as he sneaked in ahead of Sebastian Leto as the striker prepared to despatch a right-wing cross goalwards from close range.

Half-time: Liverpool Reserves 1 Boro Reserves 0

Boro were forced into making a substitution just three minutes after the interval when Hines pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Johnny Harris.

Things went from bad to worse when the home side increased their lead on 50 minutes, Nemeth driving home from distance after a free-kick was squared in to his path after a foul which brought a somewhat harsh yellow card for John Johnson.

As with the first goal, Atkinson had little chance of stopping the effort.

A strong run from skipper Grounds after good work from Goulon gave Boro a rare breakaway but the danger was snuffed out on the edge of the box and normal service resumed.

A harshly awarded free-kick on the edge of the box gave Liverpool another chance but Atkinson brilliantly turned the ball wide and then acrobatically tipped over the resultant corner.

Boro did get an effort on target from defender Johnson but his header from Owens' cross was easily taken by David Martin.

However, it was 3-0 on 63 minutes when the tiny but impressive Spearing pounced on a slip by Arca and curled the ball brilliantly past the unfortunate Atkinson.

Good defending from Walker kept the score down seconds later as he intercepted a through ball in the box.

Despite protesting that he had got the ball, Johnson was sent off for a second bookable offence on 69 minutes after he fouled Brouwer on the edge of the box.

Boro's best moment of the game came two minutes later as a brilliant Ben Hutchinson strike was turned away for a corner by the diving Martin.

But a stunning second goal for Spearing capped a superb performance with a wonderful free-kick which curled over Atkinson, who had advanced and was unable to scramble his way back to get to the ball.

The result takes Liverpool to the top of the league, the second time in as many games that the side which beat Boro went to the top of the tree. 

Liverpool: Martin, Darby (Capt), Insua, Dominguez, Huth, Plessis, Crowther (Putterill 64) Spearing, Brouwer, Nemeth (Pacheco 70), Leto (Duran 74). Unused subs: Gulasci, Ayala.

Boro: Atkinson, Hines (Harris 48), Cronesberry (Bonar 67), Goulon, Johnson J, Grounds, Thompson, Arca, Hutchinson, Walker, Owens. Unused subs: Steele, Burton, White.

Referee: M Matadar

Sent-off: Johnson, Middlesbrough, 69 minutes. Second yellow card.

Booked: Owens.

Attendance: 1,168

Conditions: Cold but still.

Man of the Match: Matthew Atkinson. Not much chance for most of the goals and a string of saves kept the scoreline reasonably respectable.