Last year’s North Riding Senior Cup final was my first experience of the North Riding Senior Cup. It was the first game in the North Riding Senior Cup I had seen, and having only went to this game in the competition this season, this was only the second game I’ve ever seen in the competition. A couple of things stuck in my mind about last year’s final before I went to this game today. 1) The queue for tickets at the ticket office was quite long 10-15 minutes before kick-off and 2) They sold out of programmes early. Looking to overcome that issue, I got to the Riverside at exactly 7 o’clock tonight and there was no queue for tickets and plenty of programmes left. Last year, I watched two sides who I had never seen before. However, before tonight, I had seen both of this year’s finalists. I’ve seen Middlesbrough U23s loads of times, but I’ve only ever seen Scarborough Athletic once. That came when they visited Spennymoor Town in the Evo-Stik Division One North in February 2016. Tonight was the first time I’ve had a ‘parmo in a bun’ at the Riverside. Maybe they should just call it a parmo burger. Here’s a word of advice for anyone visiting the area and wanting to try a parmo for the first time. Go to a takeaway away from the stadium, don’t get a ‘parmo in a bun’ in the ground. They’re not very good!

Match report:

Middlesbrough U23s win North Riding Senior Cup with win over Scarborough

Middlesbrough U23s won the North Riding Senior Cup with a 1-0 win over Scarborough Athletic at the Riverside on Wednesday night.

Luke Armstrong’s solo goal on the hour mark was the difference between the two sides, with Scarborough playing the majority of the second half with 10 men following Sam Hewitt’s red card.

In front of a crowd dominated by Scarborough fans, Middlesbrough’s youngster controlled possession in the opening few minutes.

In the fifth minute, Middlesbrough’s Mikael Soisalo picked out Hayden Coulson, but his header was tame and an easy take for Thomas Taylor.

James Cadman sent a clever flick not too far over the crossbar with Scarborough’s first chance, and the Seasiders started to grow into the game.

With just nine minutes played, the Evo-Stik outfit were gifted a great opportunity to take the lead. Free-flowing football found Max Wright. He was fouled by Patrick Reading and the referee had no option but to point to the penalty spot. James Walshaw took responsibility from 12 yards, but a superb save from Brad James kept the hosts level.

One touch football from Scarborough worked an opening in the 12th minute, but Walshaw’s eventual header failed to find the target.

A quiet spell followed, with Scarborough looking the brighter but failing to create anything.

Just before the half hour mark, Reading forced a save from Scarborough’s Taylor.

Soon after, a Middlesbrough free-kick found Nathan Dale at the back post. He lifted the ball back across goal, but Mitchell Curry’s header was saved.

Making use of their possession, Scarborough went close in the 38th minute. Wright, on loan at Scarborough from Grimsby Town, burst into the penalty area before firing an effort that was saved James. Walshaw looked to convert the rebound, but his effort was crowded out.

One minute later, Michael Coulson took down a long Scarborough long ball on the edge of the penalty area. He cut in to beat one, but his eventual effort was too high.

Two minutes before the break, Middlesbrough U23s had a great chance to break the deadlock. A perfectly weighted through ball played Curry in, but Taylor made himself big and saved.

Having been second best in the first half, Middlesbrough came out for the second half looking a different side.

They dominated the opening five minutes of the second half without creating anything, before a game-changing moment came in the 53rd minute as Scarborough were reduced to 10 men. Coulson was through on goal when fouled by Hewitt, and the referee had no option but to dismiss the Scarborough man.

The resulting was deflected wide, but the red card had sparked the youngsters into life.

Coulson went close with a rasping 20 yard drive in the 58th minute, before Curry forced a save from Taylor.

Seconds after the hour mark, Middlesbrough broke the deadlock. Good football worked the ball to Armstrong, and he made no mistake in finding the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Soisalo played a big part in Middlesbrough’s next chance. The Finland U21 international picked out Armstrong after his corner had a found a way back to him, but Armstrong could only curl wide.

Soisalo was beginning to run the show, and he picked out Armstrong once again in the 68th minute. Armstrong found room to shoot, but his low effort was saved.

Cadman curled harmlessly over as Scarborough looked for an equaliser, but in truth, they rarely threatened Middlesbrough.

With quarter of an hour to play, Middlesbrough had the ball in the net for a second time only for it to be ruled out for offside. Tyrone O’Neill’s 12-yard effort was deflected to bounce back off the post, and Curry blasted home the rebound but was ruled offside.

A quick counter gave Middlesbrough another chance soon after. The sharp attack found O’Neill, and he helped it onto Armstrong. He took aim, but his effort was saved by the legs of Taylor. Armstrong once again got onto the resulting corner, but this time, his volley was too high.

Coulson fired narrowly wide as Middlesbrough looked to put the game beyond Scarborough, before O’Neill effort was blocked.

As time began to run out, Jerome Slew’s good work picked out Walshaw, but his effort could only find the side-netting.

In the fourth minute of added time, Scarborough’s goalkeeper went forward for a dangerous free-kick. However, Middlesbrough dealt with it and it bounced through the James. With Scarborough’s goalkeeper in the Middlesbrough penalty area, James quickly released the ball to find Curry. Taylor was desperately sprinting back, and he made it just in time to block Curry’s certain goal.

It counted for little though as Middlesbrough U23s claimed a 56th North Riding Senior Cup title for Middlesbrough.

Full-time: Middlesbrough U23s 1-0 Scarborough Athletic

Next up for me is Sunderland West End vs Wolviston on Friday night.

Middlesbrough U23s: James, Dodds, Reading, Malley, Mahmutovic (c), Dale, Soisalo (O’Neill, 74′), Liddle, Armstrong, Curry, Coulson

Unused subs: Brahimi, Robinson, Guru, Hemming

Scarborough Athletic: Taylor, Johnson (Slew, 77′), Merris, Price, Snowden, Hewitt, Cadman (Dawson, 72′), Sugden, Walshaw, Coulson, Wright

Unused subs: Wallace, Beadle, Morgan

Admission: £6 adults, £3 concessions

Programme: £1

Attendance: 1,019

Parmo in a bun: £4.50

Bottle of Coke: £2

Referee: Chris Keightley