Episode 8 – An encouraging finish to the campaign

With six games left to play, the Boro squad were given the target of finishing in the top half of the table. With four of the remaining matches to be played against teams from below them in the table, there seemed to be the chance of a decent finish to the club’s first Football League experience.

First up were Hereford United, who made the long journey to the Yorkshire coast on April 9th. Boro scored twice in the first half, then relaxed a little. Hereford pulled one back from the penalty-spot, but the three points were Boro’s.

The next fixture was away to rock bottom Newport County, whose stay in the Football League, amid a major financial crisis, was almost over. The Somerton Park side had lost its senior players by the time Boro arrived in South Wales and Neil Warnock’s men had their easiest outing for some time in strolling to a 4-goal success.

Eleven days later, Boro were back in the Principality to face a far stiffer test at Cardiff City. The Bluebirds were chasing promotion and took a 1-0 lead into the half-time break. A later penalty clinched the points for the home side, but Boro could take heart from a sound performance against one of the 4th Division’s leading clubs.

Back on home soil, Boro beat Rochdale by the odd goal in three and ended the day in 13th place, just one below the top half finish aimed for. The move into ‘the target area’ was made on Bank holiday Monday, through the point won after a gritty performance at Peterborough.

This left one game to play – at home to Stockport County. The first period went well and Boro should have held the lead at the interval. Substitute Stewart Hamill scored for the home side in the second half, but Boro were forced to settle for a draw because the Hatters converted a penalty – the third Boro had conceded in six outings. It was a rather indifferent note to finish on, but with only one loss in their final eight 4th Division games Boro and their supporters could look forward to the next campaign with at least a hint of optimism.

9 Apr BORO 2 Hereford United 1
Graham (2) (2-0) Spooner (penalty) 2154

12 Apr Newport County 0 BORO 4
1025 (0-1) Outhart, Short, Richards, Cook

23 Apr Cardiff City 2 BORO 0
Curtis, McDermott (penalty) (1-0) 5751

30 Apr BORO 2 Rochdale 1
Richards, Short (2-1) Harris . . . .1852


2 May Peterborough Utd 0 BORO 0
........... (0-0) 3244

7 May BORO 1 Stockport County 1
Hamill (0-0) Williams (penalty) 2236

So, that was the end of the 1987/88 season, Boro's inaugural Football League season.  How does it compare with the previous season?... click this link to find out:

And if you'd like to know what was happening on today's date in various years from 1879 to 2007, the link below will take you to the "Today in Boro History" page.