The only goal of the game arrived through Ethan Ellis, whose thumped effort proved the difference on the night and brought all three points back to Manchester.
Boro started the game the brighter, as a Luke Woolston free-kick found Jack Daley at the far post. The number six, however, saw his downward header claimed by Will Murdock in the United net. The hosts continued their fast start to the fixture, as Brayden Johnson let fly in the area on the 12th minute, only to see his strike go wide of the mark.
Sonny Finch then drove forward for the hosts, with his low ball deflected behind for a corner. The Reds' first real sight of goal came on the 21st minute. Jaydan Kamason’s intelligent ball found the feet of Ennis inside the penalty area. The wide man struck an effort goalward, which was cleared, only for Boro to respond when Rio Patterson-Powell almost opened the scoring on 25 minutes.
The right-back’s powerful effort from 25 yards would have found the bottom left corner of the net had it not been for a brilliant, diving save from Murdock, who did well to get down to parry wide. Murdock was called into further action just a minute later, as the resultant corner posed problems for United. Woolston’s ball in found Daley at the back post, whose header had to be pounced on by the United keeper.
Travis Binnion’s side then enjoyed a spell of good chances as the first half began to wind down. First through Jack Fletcher, who had his well-taken strike brilliantly tipped over the bar by Shea Connor in the Boro net on the 39th minute Ethan Williams caused trouble under a minute later, as his ball forced Connor to frantically reclaim possession, after initially dropping it under pressure.
United’s biggest chance of the half came with just a minute remaining, as Boro captain, George McCormick, was forced to clear Williams’s strong effort off the line.