BORO RESERVES slipped to an undeserved 1-0 defeat in their opening fixture of the season against Liverpool, writes SAM LOUGHRAN at the Riverside.

Chris Riggott captained the side from the heart of the defence, as Martin Scott named an otherwise young side in his first game as Reserve team boss.

Boro lined up with all but one of the side being British and nine of the starting 11 from the North East of England. Liverpool, on the other hand, lined up with eight foreigners in the starting line-up.

There was a slow tempo to the opening exchanges that saw plenty of midfield action as Boro stretched the visitors with frequent moves down either flank through Graeme Owens and Jonathan Franks.

It took 17 minutes for the deadlock to be broken as Daniel Pacheco's right-wing cross found Jordy Brouwer eight yards from goal. His initial header was tipped onto the bar by Jason Steele, but the rebound fell kindly to the Dutch striker who nodded into an empty net to give Liverpool the lead.

The visitors nearly doubled their advantage but a smart low save from Steele kept Liverpool at bay.

Boro pressed in their bid for an equaliser, with Franks, Owens and Nathan Porritt all testing the Liverpool resistance.

Josh Walker, who was busy in the centre of midfield with Richard Smallwood, curled a 25-yard free-kick towards goal but new signing Gulacsi made a solid two-handed save.

Half-time: Boro 0 Liverpool 1

Within five minutes of the restart Porritt clipped a terrific effort from the right-hand edge of the penalty area only for Gulacsi to tip over at full stretch.

Boro continued to press but the breaks weren't falling kindly for Scott's side as a torrential downpour began to have an effect on the game.

A fantastic move down the Boro right very nearly brought an equaliser as Shaun Saiko and Porritt combined to set Owens charging free into the area.

The winger's deep cross found Franks unmarked back-post but his header was blocked on the line by Gulacsi.

The home side were pushing Liverpool back into their own half, defiant in their quest for an equaliser but were unable to carve a clear-cut opportunity.

Approaching 70 minutes, Boro looked to have shot themselves in the foot after a mis-kick from Steele fell to substitute Andras Simon on the edge of the area.

The Hungarian striker steadied himself and hit a powerful shot from 15 yards that looked destined for the top corner, but Steele redeemed himself in abundance with a superb save when it looked certain the visitors would double their precarious advantage.

Boro deserved an equaliser but in the final third they just fell short of testing the Liverpool goal as the Teessiders began to run out of time.

With four minutes remaining Boro looked to have grabbed the goal they'd been searching for, but a ricochet in the penalty area was cleared off the line as Liverpool rode their luck in the closing stages.

Boro were mightily unlucky not to have taken anything from the game, but a young side showed plenty of promise with an encouraging performance.

Boro: Steele; Saiko, Johnson, Riggott (Capt), Corker, Franks, Smallwood, Walker, Owens, Porritt, Craddock. Unused subs: Filler (gk); Furness, Cronesberry, Martin.

Liverpool: Gulacsi; Kelly, Darby (Capt), Dominguez, Huth, Ayala (Degen 46), Bruna, Spearing, Brouwer (Simon 62), Pacheco, Weijl (Irwin 84). Unused subs: Bouzanis (gk); Crowther.

Referee: Billy Khatib

Conditions: Heavy rain

Website Boro Man of the Match: Richie Smallwood and Ash Corker were strong contenders, but Chris Riggott gets the vote.