TONY McMAHON played 70 minutes as Boro secured their place in the North Riding Senior Cup final with a  2-1 win at Whitby Town last night.

A young Boro side took to the field at a very blustery and cold Turnbull Ground with McMahon making a welcome return to the squad after three months out with a torn hamstring.

The traditional full-back found himself employed in an unfamiliar role in central midfield and was given the captaincy.

It was the home side who started brightest with Boro keeper Matthew Atkinson being called into action early on. The visitors soon started to get a grip on the game though and a lovely ball from McMahon on 30 minutes set Nathan Porritt free down the left wing. His centre found Jonathan Franks who saw his shot blocked, only for it to fall to Graeme Owens who cut inside and finished well with his left foot to make it 1-0. 

There was a scare for Boro on 39 minutes when a header from Whitby's Karl Charlton found the back of the net but it was disallowed for offside. The half ended with a flurry of corners for Whitby but they couldn't force an equaliser and at the interval Boro led 1-0.

The second-half saw the windy conditions intensify and the weather would aid the home side in levelling the contest. After 64 minutes former Newcastle United and Darlington player Matty Appleby hit a shot which caught the wind and totally wrong footed Atkinson to make it 1-1.

McMahon was withdrawn 20 minutes from time when he was replaced by Theo Furness. Boro snatched the winner just six minutes later as after a quickly taken corner forced Whitby keeper David Campbell to come out of his area he missed the ball completely and left Jonathan Franks with the easiest of tasks to make it 2-1.

The game ended with Boro totally on top and late efforts from Franks and Owens could have made the scoreline even more comfortable.

Boro will now go onto meet York City in the final. The Minstermen defeated Scarborough Athletic 2-0 on Monday night in the other semi-final at Bridlington.

Boro: Matthew Atkinson, David Hillerby, Joe Bennett, Richard Smallwood, John Johnson, Rhys Williams, Graeme Owens, Tony McMahon (capt) (Theo Furness 70), Stephen Thompson (Gary Martin 60), Jonathan Franks, Nathan Porritt. Unused Subs: Sam Filler, Jordan Robinson, Ashley Corker

Whitby: David Campbell, Danny Farthing (Andy Raw 70), Ashley Lyth, Matty Appleby (capt), Richard Forster, Phil Brumwell, Andy Burton, Tom Claisse, Tom Raw (Liam Gildea 60), Andy Thompson, Karl Charlton. Unused sub: Mark Bell