YORK-born Steve McClaren helped Midddlesbrough finally end their 128-year wait for a major trophy as Boro overcame Bolton in a thrilling Carling Cup final.

Two goals in the first seven minutes, a Joseph-Desire Job strike and a penalty from Bolo Zenden, gave Boro the spoils in a 2-1 victory - despite a determined fight back from Bolton.

But while there was joy for McClaren, who has become Middlesbrough's most successful manager ever, there was disappointment for former Bootham

Crescent favourite Jonathan Greening, who was not named in the 16-man squad.

In a frenetic first half, it took Boro just two minutes to get on the score sheet. Spaniard Gaizka Mendieta picked up the ball inside the Bolton half

and fed it through to Zenden flying down the left-hand side of the penalty area.

The Dutch international looked as if he was shaping to shoot, but instead slid a pass across the face of the goal for Job to side foot home at the far post.

It was a fantastic start, and Boro's dominance in the early stages was rewarded with a second goal just five minutes later.

Mendieta was again at the heart of matters, picking out Job in the box, who was adjudged to have been brought down by Bolton defender Emerson Thome.

Zenden stepped up to take the spot kick but, with shades of David Beckham in Turkey, slipped as he struck the ball.

Fortune favoured him - his shot hit the net after cannoning off the legs of Bolton 'keeper Juusi Jaaskelainen.

If Boro thought they could finally employ a locksmith to force open their empty trophy cabinet, they were soon rocked on their heels by a moment Boro

goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will not remember with fondness.

In one of the biggest howlers in cup final history, the Australian fumbled Kevin Davies' tame effort at the near post into the net after 21 minutes.

He kicked a post in frustration. Bolton were suddenly energised.

But the villain was quickly to become the hero as he kept out a Bolton team that battered Boro for the remainder of the first half.

On 28 minutes, he made an astonishing double save. Youri Djorkaeff appeared to have a tap in after Schwarzer tipped Per Frandsen's curling effort onto a post, but the Middlesbrough man recovered to smother Djorkaeff's stab.

Schwarzer foiled Djorkaeff again with one-handed stop but the Frenchman was soon left with his head in his hands when contriving to put wide of the far

post minutes when it seemed easier to score.

McClaren's half time team talk seemed to steady his nervy troops as Middlesbrough were much more relaxed in a second period which failed to match the scintillating pace of the first 45 minutes.

Boro were content to hit Bolton on the counter-attack, but the Lancashire outfit offered little threat until Ugo Ehiogu appeared to handle Stelios Giannakopoulos' goalbound effort in the final minutes.

By then, Middlesbrough had been given ample opportunity to kill the game off, with both Juninho and Mendieta guilty of spurning match-winning opportunities.

Three times Boro had tried in major finals, three times they had failed. But in Cardiff they would not be denied.

And in making history, they bestowed legendary status on McClaren - now arguably one of York's most famous footballing sons.

He has become the first English manager to win a trophy since Brian Little eight years ago.

Updated: 11:00 Monday, March 01, 2004