After their Cup Final defeat last year the juniors look set for victory this time around.
A 3-0 victory at Villa Park was just what the lads needed in the first leg. Defender David Wheater opened the scoring after 47 minutes and James Morrison added a second five minutes later.
The trophy was wrapped up in the 78th minute with Morrison scoring his second from the penalty spot.
Villa made the better start and had two chances cleared off the line but Boro ran out deserved winners in the end.
Villa, beat Everton in the final two years ago, had the best of the early chances but it all changed when Wheater scored two minutes into the second half following a corner kick, the defender's shot going in off the inside of the far post.
Villa started the stronger of the two teams and created the best of the early chances. Luke Moore who played in Villa's FA Youth Cup final two years ago and recently made his debut for the first team, was impressive at this stage.
The muscular forward made his presence felt alongside Gabriel Agbonlohar, who thumped a volley wastefully over the bar in 13th minute from close range.
A minute later, David Knight made a superb double save to deny a close-range shot from Kyle Nix and then blocked again as Steven Foley drove the loose ball towards goal.
Moore then hit a long-range shot wide after a strong run and Agbonlohar fired wide.
Boro's only response at this stage was a curling shot from James Morrison that flew just wide of the far post from 25-yards. This was followed up with another good effort just before half-time.
Mark Proctor changed the shape of his forward line for the second half and the impact was soon seen with Wheater scoring. Anthony Peacock won a corner.
When the resulting corner kick was flicked across the six-yard box, Wheater hit a less-than-perfect volley on the turn that bobbled before it bounced into Villa's goal off the inside of the far post.
Five minutes later Boro doubled their lead when Peacock's pass put the impressive Morrison through on goal, and the forward kept his nerve to hold off defender Paul Green and slide the ball past goalkeeper Robert Olejnik.
Villa still had chances, and Boro twice more cleared off the line.
Boro were still a threat and Olejnik saved at the feet of Boro striker Tom Craddock. Then Morrison was through and was pulled down by the keeper. He got up and scored from the penalty spot in the 78th minute.
The second leg kicks-off at 19:45 at the Riverside, Monday 19th April. Get along and support the lads!
Aston Villa: Olejnik, Ward, Troest, Cahill, P Green (Grant 72), Foley, Kabeya (Paul 68), Gardner, Nix, Agbonlahor, Moore.
Subs: Masalin, Osbourne, N Green
Boro: Knight, McMahon, Bates, Wheater, Masters, Liddle, Kennedy, Taylor, Peacock, Morrison (Johnson 89), Craddock.
Subs: Roberts, Reed, Cattermole, Hines.
Ref: A. D'Urso