London-based Boro fans are invited to watch Boro's crucial FA Cup tie with Sunderland on Sunday (1:30pm KO)  with fellow MSS members.  We've reserved the basement bar in Belushi's on Borough High Street to watch the game and cheer on Boro to victory.

The manager of Belushi's is an MSS member and big Boro fan.  She'll be cooking up some parmos for a taste of Teesside for all exiled fans.

151 Borough High Street.  Nearest Tubes: Borough and London Bridge

Planning on joining us?  Leave a comment below

Boro were in David Baister Cup action this week, looking to defend the trophy they gloriously one at Hayes & Yeading last May.  Boro have had a very good start to the season having won 10 and drawn one of their first 11 games and were looking for their 5th consecutive clean sheet. It was a tough draw against a Celtic side who only joined the league this season but had won 5 out of their first 6 league games and were looking likely promotion candidates. Boro were without keeper Marlon Beresford (Barnet), defenders Alex Baker (Exams), Ben Sheffield (knackered knee), midfielders James Shepherd (Wedding), Jo Thompson (knee), James Nugent (Jetsetting) and striker Jamie Clarke (Whitby). Boro welcomed Pete Nicholson back into the squad after a long injury lay off.

Boro Line Up: Cox, Woodall, Holian (c), Scrimgour, Leek, Lees, Thompson, Gutcher, Clark, Gallagher Subs: Calder, Nicholson.

It was a cold, windy day with a low lying sun so not the best conditions for football as Celtic opted to go against the wind in the first half. Boro were on top from the off, pushing Celtic back with the wind behind them forcing several early corners. Despite Boro's early dominance there was little in the way of clear cut chances until Gallagher headed straight at the keeper from 6 yards with the goal at his mercy. Great work by Gutcher on the left saw him beat two men and fire across goal when a pass may have seen Boro 1-0 up.

Not long after though Boro did take the lead, a cross from Lees could only be parried out and GUTCHER just beat Clark to the ball to knock it into an empty net. Confusion between the Celtic defender and the keeper resulted in a collision with Boro striker Gallaghers elbow which saw the keeper picking his teeth out from the inside of his lip and a lengthy stoppage occurred. Boro had dominated the game without really playing that well but went in at half time in the lead.

Half Time: Boro 1-0 Celtic

Celtic had the wind in the second half which was making it difficult for Boro to get out of their half. Despite Celtic having a lot of possession they were struggling to break down the tight Boro defence and it was Boro who should have made it 2-0 as Gallagher released Clark down the channel but the keeper got a toe to the ball as the big striker tried to go round him. The compliment was then returned as Clark skinned the defender on the left wing and crossed for Gallagher who chested and volleyed but the keeper tipped it wide.

Celtic were still pushing for an opening though and their striker should have done better when volleying wide from a good position at the far post. A slip by Boro defender Woodall allowed the Celtic striker to hook the ball inches wide moments later. Clark and Gallagher were trying to alleviate the pressure as tireless work from Gallagher saw him brought down on 3 separate occasions on the wing. Celtic then had a header cleared off the line by Gutcher as the game flowed from end to end. Then came the defining moment of the game as a Celtic player hooked a shot in from the corner of the box which looked destined for the net until an acrobatic flying save from Boro keeper Cox to tip it over. Celtic then piled everyone up for the corner and as the ball was cleared to Jack Thompson he hit a great ball to pacey striker CLARK who flicked it past the goalkeeper, who was stood on the half way line, ran half the length of the pitch to slot it into an empty net with the Celtic defenders frantically chasing to kill off the tie.

Full Time: Boro 2-0 Celtic
Scorers: Gutcher, Clark

On a difficult day, Boro, although not playing anywhere near their best football, battled past a very good Celtic team to claim their place in the semi finals for the second season running. The victory was built firmly at the back and Boro have now conceded only 3 goals in their last 8 games and one of those was a shockingly bad penalty decision against Exeter.

Scrimgour*** - Centre back Scrimgour was superb throughout, barely giving the Celtic strikers a moments peace throughout the full 90 minutes and occasionally bursting forward to good effect.
Cox** - Swept up at the back well and one outstanding save which could be a defining moment in the season.
Holian* - Alongside Tom Scrimgour at the back was absolutely outstanding and helped Boro keep their 5th consecutive clean sheet.

Next Up: MSS FC v Hibs, Sunday January 21st 

The game was overshadowed somewhat by the passing of a great friend, Grant Harrison, who was tragically killed on Friday Lunchtime whilst on holiday. On hearing the sad news there was much discussion about whether to postpone the game but the team decided they wanted to play the game and use it as an opportunity to pay their respects and honour his passing. Boro had almost a full squad to select from with the exception of Marlon Beresford (Barnet), Alex Baker (exams), James Nugent (US), Jo Thompson (knee), Ben Sheffield (knee) and Pete Nicholson (knee). The Boro team wore black armbands for the game and London Scottish kindly observed a minutes silence with the Boro lads. All the lads felt a great sense of loss when the news came through as Grant was a regular at Pimlico football every Wednesday, was on the pool team and was a key part of the newly formed MSS second team. He was a bubbly character who was in the thick of things and really enjoyed the active social side, he will be a big big miss to all of us and there were tears shed as the minutes respect got underway.

 
Team Line Up: Cox, Woodall, Holian (c), Scrimgour, Leek, Lees, Shepherd, Reynolds, Thompson, Gutcher, Gallagher. Subs: Clark, Calder.

Although the weather was perfect for football, the pitch at Riverside Lands was uneven and not the best surface for passing the ball. It was a slow start by Boro, obviously affected by the days emotions and although the effort was there, Boros played lacked cohesion and passes were going astray. The middle of the park was too condensed and the surface meant that Boros passing game was being inhibited. After half an hour Boro had only mustered up a few sporadic attacks and although London Scottish hadn't threatened the Boro goal it wasn't working. A tactical reshuffle was made with Jordan Lees moving up front and James Shepherd out wide and minutes later it was 1-0 as a superb Lees cross was met at the far post by the outstretched left boot of GALLAGHER and the ball nestled into the roof of the net. Minutes later it was 2-0 as good work involving Leek and Gutcher found the onrushing GALLAGHER in the left hand channel and first time shot went in off the far post. Boro then made it 3-0 as a Shepherd corner was met at the back post by Scrimgour, his header was saved but REYNOLDS was there to steer in the rebound. A Shepherd Cross from the right hand side was then headed past his own keeper by the Scottish defender under pressure from Lees.

HT: London Scottish 0-4 Boro

Player Manager Andy Clark Fires home, the goal dedicated to the memory of close friend Grant Harrison

Boro were straight out the blocks in the second half spurred on by the effervescent Jack Thompson in midfield who seemed to be everywhere, breaking up play and prompting attacks. 5 minutes into the second half and it was 5-0 as LEES raced down the middle to calmly fire past the keeper into the corner of the net. Boro were simply over running London Scottish now and when a Shepherd corner fell to REYNOLDS he steered the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards. Moments later it was REYNOLDS again as he slotted home in similar circumstances from a corner. Clark then ran through but his shot was saved by the keeper. From the resultant corner, Clark headed inches wide at the far post. SHEPHERD then fortuitously beat his man on the corner of the 18 yard box but there was nothing fortunate about his finish as he beautifully chipped the keeper to make it 8-0. There was still time for one last attack as Calder burst down the wing and his cross was chested down and fired home by Player Manager CLARK who got the goal he desperately wanted to honour a missing friend.

London Scottish 0-9 Boro

In difficult circumstances Boro continued their fine form to hammer Scottish and go 5 points clear at the top of the table with a 5th clean sheet in 7 games allied to a hatful of goals.

Jack Reynolds *** - a marauding display by attacking midfielder Reynolds was capped off with 3 goals.
Jack Thompson ** - His energy and guile was the heartbeat of the Boro performance
Gallagher** - superb strikes set the Boro on their way to another crucial 3 points.

RIP Grant Harrison. London Scottish 0-9 MSS FC