It’s time now for the last game in the current run of four,
As the Boro leave the tunnel to a quite tremendous roar,
Hoping to take the wind out of the Arsenal sails,
And get us to the final, down in Cardiff, Wales.

The flag-flying Boro fans, I’m sure, have never been prouder,
And the wall of noise becomes increasingly louder,
As we set off protecting our narrow lead of one,
I’m confident that what’s necessary will eventually be done.

Early pressure comes from Arsenal: already Boro nerves are showing,
With ten men back defending, the fans’ anxiety is growing,
They’re playing ‘keep the ball’ by simply passing it about,
We’re hemmed in and retreating as they seek to tire us out.

But one man’s having none of that, as he sets off alone,
Charging through on Arsenal’s goal as he’d outgunned big Keown,
“Let’s get at ‘em,” was the rallying cry one was hearing from afar,
And it came, as was expected, from our little Samba Star.

He whipped in a great cross after running half the field,
The ball was then deflected and a corner it did yield,
Although the ball was cleared as it came in from Mendieta,
That’s a little bit more promising with things now looking much, much better.

Juninho for this game is really looking fired up,
Seeking to fulfil a dream of winning Boro’s very first cup,
Though he failed at the last moment despite trying oh so hard,
With great skill he’d prised wide open the normally watertight rear guard.

Next it was the Gunners’ turn to mount a swift attack,
Resulting in the Boro being pushed ever further back,
Edu brought the ball down and then he tried a shot from distance,
Which flew inches wide of Schwarzer’s post and we’d put up no resistance.

Arsenal’s corner count is mounting as the ball’s again deflected,
They pack the Boro area and great danger’s now expected,
Once more it’s that man Edu who causes such tremendous fear,
His header’s only inches wide with ‘keeper Schwarzer nowhere near.

Schwarzer cleared his lines so well and Mendieta was set up,
He then brought in Juninho, who urged Maccarone to quickly get up,
The goal was gaping wide for the Boro’s little Italian,
But he wasn’t even close and for that there’s no medallion.

That was a gilt-edged opportunity and the miss left Boro fans snarling,
Another goal would have meant the final of the cup sponsored by Carling,
Chances will be limited, so some really must be taken,
Macca probably should have scored and he certainly looks shaken.

The Boro were then suddenly very nearly made to pay as
Danny Mills was dummied by the expensive Spaniard, Reyes,
Who got his shot on target but he failed to score because he
Was thwarted by good handling by our very own big Aussie.

With Arsenal still enjoying the majority of possession,
A narrow miss by Cygan almost brought about depression,
He connected with a corner and he probably should have flicked it,
With four yellow shirts behind him, they might well then have nicked it.

Suddenly for the Arsenal things were really looking black,
But they were saved right on the line by great agility from Stack,
Once more ‘twas Maccarone and we won’t need to remind him,
But the chance was not an easy one with the ball slightly behind him.

It started with a great free kick delivered in by Bolo,
The ball was kept in brilliantly by French Franck, now standing solo,
He pulled it back across the goal with Stack already grounded,
But his reaction was incredible and had the crowd astounded.

A corner brought another chance and unless I am mistaken,
That’s three golden opportunities and not one has yet been taken,
Zenden crossed a super ball, which we really could have blown in,
Juninho and Macca missed it and that left the Boro fans all groanin’.

Arsenal’s Martin Keown, who’s surely being caught by age,
Hauls down Maccarone in the first period’s final stage,
On the edge of Arsenal’s area he pulled down Macca in his path,
The red card’s out immediately and that means an early bath.

Juninho’s kick’s saved on the line by ‘keeper Graham Stack,
And Monsieur Wenger’s on the prowl and taking lots of flack,
So ends a half of excellence in which we’ve been hugely entertained,
Let’s hope when play resumes that Boro’s advantage is maintained.

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Controversy quickly reigned within the very first minute,
Reyes chased after Edu’s pass but was never going to win it,
The ball was running away from him and desperately though he’d striven,
For me, it wasn’t a penalty, although I’ve certainly seen them given.

The man in charge, Mr. Gallagher, was ideally placed to see,
And who are we to argue, with a Premiership referee?
As Schwarzer dived to get the ball Reyes instantly took flight,
I’m convinced there was no contact and the referee got it right.

Despite the furious penalty claims, Mr. Gallagher stood his ground,
Ignoring all the Arsenal claims that their man was illegally downed,
Then immediately to the other end and the home fans’ turn to howl,
As Juninho was subjected to a crude “professional foul.”

Not many minutes later and the play’s becoming brisker,
And Arsenal were unlucky when they failed by just a whisker,
Reyes attacked at awesome speed, caused much panic in defence,
But Schwarzer saved magnificently with the crowd held in suspense.

With Boro under pressure it really doesn’t look like good news,
As Arsenal win a corner as they tighten up the screws,
Toure tried a toe poke, which he’d think he should have buried,
Then Schwarzer showed more brilliance and appeared not to be worried.

To a man the Boro fans rise, simply to show their gratitude,
For a wonderful performance and Mark’s professional attitude,
As ever forward surge the Gunners, playing with such tremendous pride,
Then Vieira blasts a rocket, which flies only inches wide.

With twenty minutes left to play we got what fans implored,
When the Flying Dutchman, Zenden, went right on through and scored,
With their goalkeeper left stranded, the Gunners suddenly felt the force,
And Bolo keeps the Boro dream well and truly right on course.

Maccarone played a major part, as did also Mendieta,
And the finish was impeccable: no-one could do it better!
Joseph Job’s arrival means the end of Macca’s day,
And surely now the Boro are well and truly on their way.

Bentley’s nutmegged by Juninho and then made to look a fool,
As he showed his lack of self-control and instantly lost his cool,
The usual Gunners’ mass complaint didn’t save the promising fellow,
Who received the sternest warning and then was shown a yellow.

Gunners must press forward and occasionally seek to gamble,
And again we see Vieira, who is leading by example,
Imperiously he strode through the field, covering almost half the park,
And he let one fly from distance to bring the best out of big Mark.

Almost incessantly now the Gunners’ pressure mounted,
And Edu, from a corner, ensured the next one counted,
The corner hit Vieira’s shoulder and then bounced off the bar,
Edu reacted swiftly to become the Arsenal star.

So now around the Riverside, although the place is jumping,
There’s no doubt at all in my mind that the Boro’s hearts are thumping,
In certain sections of the crowd their joy is suddenly stilled,
Wondering if their ambition for silverware will remain unfulfilled.

We had mostly felt quite certain that we had one foot in the door,
Now there’s the possibility of it being totally closed once more,
We still lead by one goal, though it’s one each on the night,
So “Seconds out, you Boro lads, time to stand up and fight.”

And ‘fight’ is what the lads all did and finally got the winner,
When seventeen-million-pounds-man, Reyes, became the Gunners’ sinner,
Well-pressured by young Parnaby as the final whistle neared,
His first English goal in the Arsenal net was quite expertly steered.

When I first saw the strength tonight of the visitors’ team,
I thought, “Is this to be the end of the Boro fans’ dream?”
But the lads remained heroes to the very last man,
Can they now do it for Steve Gibson? Well, yes: I’m sure they can!