However, the Teessiders sprung to life after 15 minutes. A fierce shot from Stewart Downing from just outside the penalty area was blocked by the keeper. It rebounded to Massimo Maccarone, who was running in on goal, and he blasted the ball home.
Three minutes later a lovely ball from Juninho set Maccarone clear with an unhindered run through to goal. However, he hesitated at the edge of the box and a superb tackle ended this golden chance.
Middlesbrough at this point were beginning to control the game but York were still proving capable creating the odd awkward moment. Carlo Nash was forced into a good save on 25 minutes.
Boro went two up around 35 minutes into the game. A Mark Wilson corner was not properly cleared and the ball fell outside the penalty area. Sergio latched on to it and hammered it home from 25 yards, from the right hand side of the pitch, into the top left-hand corner of the net. A classic goal. By the way who is Sergio? Where is he from? Please post on the messageboard on this site if you know.
Half Time: York City 0 Middlesbrough XI 2 (Refreshment time - a Chicken Balti Pie)
Within a minute of the restart Boro went three up, with another goal of high quality. Nemeth collected the ball on the right hand corner of the box, faced by two defenders. He produced some dazzling footwork, created space and cooly fired the ball high into the net by the far post. A wonder strike by the Slovakian.
Seven minutes later Juninho slotted a fine ball through to Nemeth who outpaced a defender, drew out the keeper and accurately stuck the ball along the floor, past the diving keeper and in at the far post. Another great goal Mr McClaren.
The striker was still not finished. Nine minutes later he made it three goals in 16 minutes. One of many fine Downing crosses caused chaos in the box, a defender turned the ball away from goal but it fell to Nemeth who made no mistake with a low shot from just inside the penalty area.
0-5 with nearly 30 minutes still to play - how many would we get?
After 22 minutes the visitors made their first and only change with Sergio being replaced by the diminutive Anthony Peacock (considerably smaller than Juninho!).
Boro went six up in the 75th minute. Maccarone finally hitiing the net, after missing 4-5 excellent chances created for him by Juninho and Nemeth.
Juninho was fouled. He jumped up and took a quick free-kick, slipping the ball to Maccarone. The Italian held off the defender tailing him and shot from the edge of the box, a similar goal from almost the same spot as Nemeth's second.
That was to be it. Well almost, York did score with the final kick of the game. Boro failed to clear a corner and Chris Brass (player manager) hit a fierce shot from the edge of the area, through a crowded box, into the goal.
Juninho had an excellent game, getting better as the match progressed. He was creative and had one shot that just went wide.
All in all a fine night, especially for Nemeth and Juninho.
Scorers: Nemeth 3, Maccarone 2, Sergio 1
Team (with performance ratings)
Nash (6), McMahon (6), Bates (7), Riggott (7), Taylor (7), Wilson (7), Sergio (8)(Peacock (5) 67), Nemeth (9), Maccarone (7), Juninho (9), Downing (8)
Attendance: 1,274 (around 250 from Boro)