MUZZY Carayol's first-half strike was enough to send Boro Under-21s top of the table after a fiery 1-0 win over Wolves at Victoria Park.
The winger slammed home inside 20 minutes as he scored his first competitive goal since recovering from a 10-month cruciate injury.
That was enough to send Paul Jenkins' men two points clear at the Barclays Under-21 Premier League Second Division summit, ahead of next week's crunch trip to title rivals West Brom.
Boro showed first on 10 minutes as Ryan Brobbel found David Atkinson at the edge of the box, but the defender blazed his shot high and wide.
The Teessiders, who won 2-1 in September's reverse fixture, continued on the front foot as Lewis Maloney tried his luck after a surging run, but his shot flew wide of Wolves keeper Jonathan Flatt's post.
Boro deservedly netted the opener on 20 minutes as Harry Chapman danced his way past a couple of defenders before drilling a low cross towards the onrushing Carayol, who slammed home from close range.
Wolves, who came into the game on the back of five straight draws, looked for a quick response but it was Boro who always looked dangerous on the counter-attack, with Andre Bennett firing a 20-yard free-kick high and wide on the half hour mark.
The visitors started to push forward approaching half-time with Jim Kellermann's goal-bound effort blocked, while at the other end Carayol saw his low drive pushed away.
After the break Wolves started with added bite and should have levelled almost instantly when Kellermann ghosted into the box, but his shot was blocked and plucked to safety by Boro stopper Joe Fryer.
Wolves continued to shade territory and possession, but could not find a way past a Boro rearguard marshalled superbly by captain Jonny Burn.
On 70 minutes Boro survived their biggest scare, as Wolves defender Regan Upton found himself unmarked at the back post following Jordan Graham's free-kick- but somehow volleyed over from five yards out.
The Wolves onlaught showed little sign of stopping as Burn's last-ditch challenge then thwarted Donovan Wilson, before Wilson then ran through on goal - only to be denied by a superb Fryer save.
And despite a flurry of late corners, Boro's resolute defence held firm as they went top of the league.
Boro: Fryer, Atkinson, Jackson, Burn (c), Bennett, Tinkler, Maloney, Chapman (Fewster 82), Carayol (Kitching 75), McAloon, Brobbel. Subs not used: Pears, Weledji, Morelli.
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