By air, by road and on the rails,
Boro fans have travelled down to Wales,
To witness the lifting of the Carling Cup,
When the referee signals that the time is up.

Adorned in ribbons of Boro’s red and white,
Doesn’t the Trophy make a magnificent sight?
And as it’s ever so very proudly held aloft,
That’s one in the eye for all the folk who scoffed.

The lads have been forgiven for their recent aberrations,
As the fans throughout the world now begin their celebrations,
After well over a century there is now much renewed hope,
And the Boro now get set to take that journey into Europe.

I’ve just awakened from a dream as the game kicks off in earnest,
Against the Wanderers from Bolton, the test will surely be the sternest,
With expectation at its highest the lads know exactly what to do,
But I must admit I’m quite relieved that the Trotters don’t play in blue.

Inside the first two minutes, before the smoke dispersed,
Boro had a great move, which was obviously rehearsed,
Mills sent the ball to ‘Mendi’ who immaculately picked out ‘Zend,’
Who then sent the ball into the box and Job was on the end.

The goal was quite fantastic and not as easy as it seemed,
And it brought about the start of what we all had only dreamed,
Steve McClaren missed it as he changed out of his suit,
But he saw it somewhat later and agreed it was a ‘beaut.’

Queudrue tackled crucially, twice within a minute,
As Davies fought to emphasise that they’re still very much in it,
He beat the lunge of Mills who was somewhat hindered by the ref.,
And Schwarzer was then called upon to save from Djorkaeff.

“Mouth-watering” was a lovely phrase, of which I heard a mention,
The game is really open and with not much sign of tension,
Then comes the opportunity for Boro to go two goals up,
And that would surely indicate that we have one hand on the Cup.

Job is fouled inside the box and the ref. awards a pen.,
Which is clinically despatched by the trusty foot of ‘Zen,’
So we’re two goals up and such a lead is surely unassailable,
Though Wanderers, do rest assured, will try all means available.

A terrific ball to Zenden and Bolton’s rearguard once more rocks,
As the ‘wee man’ glances quickly and then delivers into the box,
Thome was mighty lucky as the ball he then deflected,
And Boro had a corner when much more had been expected.

Davies ran at Boro’s goal and no-one tried to follow him,
Then Schwarzer must have wished the earth would open up and swallow him,
From an angle really so acute, he had no right to score,
But big Mark made a mess of it and he’s feeling really sore.

Bolton now are fired up and once more they’re attacking,
And Boateng gets a ‘yellow’ when discipline was found lacking,
The free kick’s in an area just right for a Jay Jay threat,
But Okocha sent it slightly high and it landed on the net.

Schwarzer soon redeemed himself as he showed his better side,
For a double save from Djorkaeff he can hold his head with pride,
The first attempt he parried and off the post it then rebounded,
He then twisted acrobatically and left Djorkaeff dumfounded.

So Mark has more than made amends as Bolton now appear the brisker,
And Djorkaeff from six yards out missed out by just a whisker,
It deflected for a corner and things became somewhat unsavoury,
Then Schwarzer once more saved the reds and showed the utmost bravery.

Boro for a little while were very much second fiddle,
Then Mendieta put one wide and how he did so was a riddle,
But this is still a wonderful ad. and with little time remaining,
Both sides have contributed to make this game most entertaining.

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So play resumes; no changes made, in the second half of this ‘fight,’
And if it’s only half as good it’ll be a sheer delight,
Urged on by all their loyal fans with such tremendous backing,
It’s great to see the Boro lads out there once more attacking.

Boro on the breakaway and quickly up the tempo,
The ball then fell to Joseph Job, who slipped away from Campo,
Terrific play by ‘Mendi’ and though his effort was a fine ‘n,’
He chipped over the bar and did not trouble Jaaskelainen.

What tremendous play by Joseph Job, who rolled his man with ease,
And he then had two clear options to bring Bolton to their knees,
He picked out Mendieta although Zenden was standing totally free,
And the Spaniard really should have scored to make the Boro tally three.

The Boro are now enjoying a really positive spell,
With the chances they’re creating, let’s hope they make one tell,
It’s great to see the lads attack and again there is a rush on,
To find that elusive number three and renew the two-goal cushion.

Sliding in rather rashly, Queudrue lost the ball to Hunt,
Who sent it in on Boro’s goal with a great right-footed punt,
Nolan rose majestically and had time to make his name,
But the save was made by Schwarzer though the attempt was rather tame.

A free kick now for Bolton was the referee’s decision,
When Franck Queudrue, by Djorkaeff, was dragged out of position,
Twenty-five yards out and central, well within Okocha distance,
But the Boro wall did its duty and put up stout resistance.

Frandsen’s somehow lost his way so Pedersen takes his place,
Then Job’s replaced by Ricketts; a fairly recent Bolton face,
And the welcome from his former fans is less than complimentary,
As pointed out by Mr. Brownlee, the red and white eyes of Century.

For something like ten minutes, the game’s been rather scrappy,
And Bolton’s manager, Allardyce, doesn’t appear too happy,
His team still trails by just one goal and every ball he’s kicking,
And seventy minutes have been played and the clock is slowly ticking.

But there’s also Boro pressure: will it be the same old story?
Or is this to be our ‘lucky’ year? Are Boro heading now for glory?
Bolton’s defence then failed to clear but they thought it not a funny ‘n,
As Mendieta carved them wide apart like the proverbial Spanish onion.

Moreno’s on for Nolan although he certainly hasn’t sinned,
But Bolton, with no option, now throw all caution to the wind,
And though Boro seek another goal to give a massive boost,
No chickens are being counted until they’ve all come home to roost.

Boateng for the Boro made a clearance acrobatically,
Ricketts finds the ‘little man:’ Will he now finish it dramatically?
Half way down the field he strode; forced wide by Bolton’s back,
Then he missed by quite some margin although at least he had a crack.

Bolton throw their final dice with a player they now announce,
And I will call him Stellios from his name I can’t pronounce,
We then saw our little Brazilian brilliantly leave three in his wake,
To make a chance for ‘Mendi’ which he sadly didn’t take.

Fingernails are being chewed down as we start the final minute,
And the pain on every Boro fan’s face reveals how much we want to win it,
Ugo threw in everything to make a clearance so sublime,
To save us all, we hope and pray, from the agony of extra time.

A corner was conceded: please let’s not now come a cropper!
As Bolton seek the help up front of Jaaskelainen their big stopper,
Then added time’s announced; there are four minutes on display,
Was it just imagination, or did I see some fans kneel to pray?

We survived a ‘decent’ penalty call, which, to some, was quite a mystery,
But the Boro inch ever closer to their place in football history,
French Franck won a crucial ball when fans were feeling queasy,
Who said that being a Boro fan was ever really easy?

The ref. then blew his whistle as a signal of the finish,
And the stadium erupted and all signs of nerves diminish,
We are finally ‘The Winners’ though we never stopped believing,
And “well done,” too, to Bolton, though their many fans are grieving.

But they’ll not be the only ones to shed a little tear,
You’ll see them in the Boro too, despite the carnival atmosphere,
Now, raise your glass to Mr. Gibson, who will be really tickled pink,
He deserves this more than most; at least that’s what I think.

It’s been a long time coming but we’ve finally got it right,
And the stadium in Cardiff is now a sea of red and white,
Soon they’ll make their journey home, doubtless feeling ‘ale’ and hearty,
It’s been a day we’ll not forget: go out; enjoy the party!