NATHAN PORRITT was Boro Reserves' matchwinner as they defeated Blackburn Rovers in their final game before the short festive break, writes SAM LOUGHRAN from the Riverside.

The talented teenager struck shortly before the half-hour mark to cap a Man of the Match display and give Boro a deserved three points. 

Brad Jones started in goal for Martin Scott's side, while Marvin Emnes led the line in another young line-up.

A notable senior inclusion for Blackburn, who lost their first team manager, former Boro captain Paul Ince today, was Martin Olsson, who played his first game since been sent-off against Tottenham 10 days ago.

There was a slow start to the game but Boro created the first chance after a right-wing corner was cleared only as far as Emnes, who drove his shot from 15 yards over the crossbar.

Moments later Rovers' goal was threatened again as this time a Graeme Owens cross from the right was met by Emnes on the edge of the area and a flapped Mark Bunn clearance almost fell to Nathan Porritt but the visitors managed to clear the danger.

Jonathan Grounds was kept busy by some quick Blackburn moves, but he was strong and confident partnering Seb Hines in the centre of defence.

Boro's attacks were coming from across the midfield quartet, with Jonathan Franks and Graeme Owens causing Rovers difficulties on both wings, while Josh Walker and Richie Smallwood efficiently marshalled the engine room.

Matthew Bates, who was on the bench against Arsenal on Saturday, was continuing his impressive form in the Reserves with a typically energetic shift in the right-back position.

Owens took a free-kick right on the edge of the Blackburn area after Marvin Emnes was hauled down, but Bunn was equal to the right-footed effort.

Emnes was in bullish mood on a cooling evening, displaying skilful close control and sheer determination in hassling the Rovers backline.

Boro took the lead after 28 minutes when a quickly taken free-kick from the right was poked home by Porritt after his quick thinking saw him steal a march on the defender to meet the cross and convert from six yards.

Blackburn came closing to levelling the game after 35 minutes as Marcus Marshall rose highest at the back post, but Jones made a smart grab from the looping 10 yard header.

While Smallwood questioned a bizarre decision from the linesman, a quickly taken free-kick on the touchline was swung to the edge of the Boro area, where captain Walker was adjudged to have brought down Bryan Hodge.

The midfielder's fall occurred two yards after the challenge, but the referee saw something Walker didn't and awarded a free-kick that was fiercely fired towards Jones' goal. Thankfully, the wall did its job.

Boro had the ball in the net as the game entered stoppage time at the end of the first half as Emnes latched onto a flick on from Porritt. The Dutchman converted from 15 yards, but the linesman's flag denied the home side their second.

Half-time: Middlesbrough 1 Blackburn Rovers 0

Blackburn came out with purpose at the beginning of the second half but lacked conviction, with forced attacks failing to trouble Boro's defensive unit.

Rovers broke down the right and Marshall miscued a cross from the right which Jones cleverly tipped over the bar.

Emnes' typically lively approach was worrying Blackburn as the forward proved equally adept at holding up play, running onto balls in behind and taking on defenders.

As the hour-mark approached Franks set off down the right and his deflected cross found Owens 15 yards out. The winger twisted but his curled effort was saved on the line by Bunn.

Boro were getting all kinds of joy down the right, this time Porritt teased two covering Rovers defenders and gave Bates the opportunity to cross. The full-back fizzed a ball into the near post where Franks almost converted as Blackburn continued to live dangerously.

Owens was enduring a frustrating time in his bid to create opportunities. His endeavour was evident but the final ball eluded the Cramlington-born winger and his own frustration was apparent.

The visitors were being penned back in their own area and a corner from the left was headed goalwards by Hines and a Porritt flick near post was cleared off the line by Aaron Doran.

Emnes' impressive performance warranted a goal but the breaks eluded him in the final third, when on another day he could have been celebrating.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Blackburn must have thought they had an equaliser. A close-range effort was seemingly past Jones, but a superb clawing save kept Boro ahead.

Emnes was showing his class and left substitute Phil Jones kicking his heels after some delightful skill in a confined space in a wide left area, the Dutchman finally winning a free-kick.

A measured cross from Walker was flicked goalwards by Bates, only to see his effort thud back off the post with a little under two minutes remaining.

Boro saw out the four minutes of added time with efficiency and came away with three richly-deserved points.

Middlesbrough: Jones; Bates, Corker, Walker (Capt), Hines, Grounds, Franks, Smallwood, Emnes, Porritt, Owens (Martin 83). Unused subs: Steele (gk); Robinson, Shead, Furness.

Blackburn: Bunn; Kane, Gunning (Haworth 61), Flynn (Jones 68), Winnard, Hodge, Doran, Judge (Capt.), Santa Cruz, Marshall, Olsson. Unused subs: Arestidou (gk); O'Keefe, Potts.

Referee: Scott Duncan

Conditions: Mild and still

Attendance: 266

Website Boro Man of the Match: There were many contenders including Marvin Emnes, Matthew Bates and Jonathan Grounds, but Nathan Porritt gets the nod for an assured display.