MIDDLESBROUGH face an uphill struggle in their bid to lift the FA Youth Cup for the first time after a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United last night.

Over 8,000 turned out at the Riverside for the first leg of the final to witness Boro's young guns try to emulate what stars like Gascoigne, Owen and Beckham have all done before.

But it was United who hold the upper hand for the return tie at Old Trafford on April 25 after Kieran Richardson, one of two visiting players to have already left their mark on the Champions League this season, and midfielder Ben Collett grabbed the two goals.

Boro had the better of the second half and went close with a fine long range effort from Darlington boy James Morrison, but were unable to find a crucial goal.

It is only the second time the Teessiders have reached the last two of the competition - the first was in 1990 - and they got off to the worst possible start by conceding after just four minutes.

Danish striker Mads Timm and Richardson, combined with a neat one-two and the latter turned into space before unleashing a low drive beyond goalkeeper Ross Turnbull from 20 yards.

Boro responded with a long range Chris Brunt free-kick that flew wide, but falling behind clearly shook the hosts.

United, who have not won the competition since 1995, took a hold of the game and lively midfielder David Jones was denied when Turnbull stopped with his feet.

Jones, Richardson and Timm caused problems but Boro nearly pulled level.

Anthony Peacock, dubbed the little Juninho by his teammates, put Morrison through but Luke Steele in the United goal came out to block and minutes later Morrison, who again got in behind the backline, got the better of Steele with a cheeky chip but this time Lee Lawrence got back to cover.

Boro were now beginning to show some of the quality that saw them overturn Bury, Barnsley, Luton, Tottenham and Manchester City in previous rounds.

And Northern Ireland under-18 international Brunt went close to equalising when the striker broke and fired a left-foot shot wide.

But in stoppage time United scored the decisive second when the ball fell to Collett unmarked at the back post and he powerfully shot beyond Turnbull.

MATCHFACTS

Goals: Richardson (4mins, 0-1); Collett (90, 0-2)

Booking: Johnson (foul)

Referee: Rob Styles (Waterlooville)

Attendance: 8,310

BORO (5-3-1-2): Turnbull 7; McMahon 6, Wheater 6, Davies 6, Bates 6, Harrison 7; Taylor 7, Liddle 6; Peacock 7 (Kennedy 82); Brunt 7, Morrison 8. Subs (not used): Masters, Knight, Reed, Craddock.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): Steele 6; Sims 6, Bardsley 7, McShane 7, Lawrence 6; Eagles 6, Jones 8, Richardson 8, Collett 7; Timm 7 (Ebanks-Blake 59, 6), Johnson 7. Subs (not used): Howard, Heaton, Poole, Calliste.

MAN OF THE MATCH: James Morrison -unlucky not to get his name on the scoresheet.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.