THE latest crop of Boro boys proved too strong for an inexperienced Wanderers second string at Leyland on Monday night.

A shortage of seniors - Julio Cesar was the only player with any Premiership experience - did not help but Ian McDonald's side suffered an early setback when Polish defender Jaroslaw Fojut limped off after just 15 minutes.

Wanderers coped wll in a dour first half, denying Boro a single shot on goal but they were behind just four minutes into the second when Tom Craddock put the visitors ahead.

Adam Johnson doubled Boro's lead 10 minutes later but Wanderers gave themselves a glimmer of hope when they pulled one back, James Sinclair beating Boro keeper Brad Jones with a glancing header.

Bedi Buval could have levelled it when he got away on the right only to hit his shot wide. It was to prove costly with Craddock scoring his second to secure the points for Boro five minutes from time.

Wanderers: Howarth, Shakes, Talbot, Powell, Cesar, Fojut (Stott 15 mins), Hill, Kribib (Magill 68 mins), Buval, Sinclair, Luisi (Thach 45 mins). Not used: Knowles, Ashton.

Middlesbrough: Jones, Catermole, Taylor, Kennedy, Hines, Wheater, Lemaine (Robson 75 mins), Grounds, Graham, Craddock, A Johnson (J Johnson 85 mins). Not used: Pennock.