Glory and Disappointment

Boro took a share of glory and disappointment, yesterday, as they cruised to the winners spot in this years hottest competition but were agonisingly crushed 2-0 away at Goodison Park in the 4 o'clock Sky Sports Live game.

Yes! Boro walked away as winners of one of the hottest, most unique footballing competitions in years.
All of last week, Sky One, presented the unique concept that is Premier League All Stars; legends, celebrities and fans all join forces to represent their Premier league teams in a week long tournament raising loads of money for charity.
Each team had a representation of 4 former professionals, 3 celebrities and 3 die hard fans; all playing for victory, their chosen charity and, of course, pride.

Boro lined up with former legends Jim Platt (goalie), Graig Hignett (Forward), Mikkel Beck (Forward) and Bernie Slaven (Forward) with celebrities Alistair Griffin (Singer and Boro Fan), Mark Stobbart (Actor & Boro Fan) and Gary Havelock (Speedway legend & Boro Fan) and finally, the fans, Steven Aithwaite (Sports Lecturer, Thornaby) Tony Rovardi (Ice-cream Cone Manufacturer, Acklam) and Julian McGuire (IT Consultant, Ealing).

Boro opened with a classic local derby against Newcastle. A cagey battle that ended in a 3-3 draw. The teams went to penalties and it was Boro who walked out victorious, Mikkel Beck scoring the winning penalty in sudden death.

Through other results in Boro's group, they made it to the quarter finals where they beat Birmingham City 2-0 thanks to Bernie Slaven and an unbelievable strike from IT Consultant Julian McGuire.

The Semi-finals threw up another derby clash, this time against Sunderland and, with another 2-0 win, Boro booked their place in the Premier League All Stars final against West Ham, who knocked out Manchester United in the semis.

Boro dominated the early exchanges of the final but, unfortunately went 1 down before the break and were thankful for some Jim Platt heroics in goal. Despite having had a longer preparation for the final, Boro looked the more tired and sluggish in the second half and it was only through a series of squandered chances and a lucky clearance off the line from Hignett, which ricocheted off the post, that Boro didn't concede more.

Craig Hignett was then the hero at the other end after his rebounded shot squirmed under Hammers goalkeeper Allen McKnight. So Boro were level and Mikkel Beck was looking the best he'd been all tournament; jinking round the Hammers players and providing chances for the other Boro stars.

With 1 minute remaining it seemed that the game was going to go to penalties. But the unique nature of All Stars is that the final minute is 'Power Play', where goals count double and so both teams were pushing to grab that vital goal when, Mikkel Beck received possession in the middle of the park, before beating 2 Hammers players and playing the ball through to Alistair Griffin in the 6-yard area who calmly slotted the ball under the goal keeper to give Boro a 3-1 advantage with just 20 seconds remaining.

The Hammers quickly rallied and forced to grab a last gasp goal, but the Final whistle came and Boro had won the 2007 Sky One Premier League All Stars and £100,000 for the Butterwick Children's Hospice and Teesside Hospice.

Sadly the 'real' Boro were defeated 2-0 away to Everton, despite creating any number of chances. But failing to take the chances they had Gareth Southgate's men had to sit back and watch Everton take the lead by 1, then 2 goals.
I don't really want to dwell too much on the bad Boro news for 2 reasons. Firstly it's better to look at the good news from yesterday and, secondly, this post is already really long.