Boro got back to winning ways by beating Walsall 3-2 on the final home game of the season to send the fans home happy after weeks of disappointment.
Graham Westley named a young side with four academy products in the squad. Jo N’Guessan and Feriji Okenabirhie both made their first starts for the club whilst Ryan Johnson and Rohdell Gordon were named on the bench, the latter coming on at half-time.
The youngsters made a great impact on the game, none more so than Jo N’Guessan who equalised with a fine run and finish early in the second half.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity and so are all of us really. Darren (Sarrl) did a good job of preparing the young players to make the step-up to the first team and it’s now just about taking the opportunity.
“I saw Jimmy pick the ball up in the middle of the park and I thought that if I take him out wide with my first movement that run-inside he won’t be able to get there, and the pass from Jimmy Smith was perfect, perfectly weighted and in the right area so I just had to run onto to it and finish it.”
After the game Graham Westley made it clear that the victory was for the fans who have stuck by the team all season.
“It’s a strange feeling wining at home, unfortunately. It’s been a long hard season. It’s been a real trial for the fans, who again were here for us today and I’m delighted that the boys have managed to give them at least something to smile about going into the summer.
“I think the most important thing today was that there was some energy to want to win the game. There was some work-rate, there were lads giving it their all. I’m sure there’ll be senior players looking on at some of the work-rate that went in from some of the kids today and some of the senior lads will be looking in the mirror tonight, thinking ‘did I really give as much as that when I was called upon, when the burden was on my shoulders’.”
To get all the full post-match reaction, sign into Boro Player now where interviews with GW, Luke Freeman, Luke Jones, Jo N’Guessan and Feriji Okenabirhie are online.