Boro signed off the season in style with a cracking 4-1 win at relegated Yeovil and a performance that holds so much promise for next season. A brace from Ledesma and finishes from Graham and Tomlin did the damage and fully rewarded Boro fans for that long, long trip and early morning start. Onwards and upwards next season.

Last season Boro finished the campaign with a real damp squib defeat at Sheffield Wednesday that left a sour taste through the summer. This close season we can look back on home and away wins, admittedly over team in the bottom three of the league but good wins all the same. The sight of a top less Albert Adomah dancing with the girl dancers on the podium at Huish Park will also live a long time in the memory banks.

It was bright sunshine and holiday temperatures down in Somerset that beckoned Boro fans from the buses and cars for a noon finish to the season. Many fans were wearing red and some in red fancy dress. It didn't matter that out on the pitch the blue and black away kit was being worn.

There were a few changes on the pitch from the team that sent Barnsley packing for League One. Seb Hines made a rare start at the back alongside Daniel Ayala. Jason Steele was given his first run out of the year and his distribution would later give him an assist on Tomlin's goal. Adam Reach dropped down to the bench but would play in the second period. Jacob Butterfield would play his customary 60 minutes but this time after stepping on from the bench and replacing the injury Nate Chalobah. The Chelsea man appeared to get a strain after winning the ball, darting forward and setting up Danny Graham for a chance the striker sadly squandered.

There were few other attacking moments of note in the early minutes of the match. Albert Adomah had launched himself down the left wing only to launch the ball skywards when the box was beckoning. In many ways the turning point for Boro and the match came when we got Ledesma on the ball. The former Walsall man cut inside off the right and whipped in a shot that dipped in front of a keeper who could only palm it out for sniffer Graham to convert the rebound.

The first goal was a signal for Boro to charge into life and attempt to knock holes through the Glovers' defences. Ledesma had the keeper beaten all ends up when his shot dipped late again but this time struck the cross bar.

But Boro were shocked and rocked back when a sudden raid by the home team led to an equaliser. Poor, uncertain defending allowed a cross to come in and a goal from point blank range that left Jason Steele little chance only able to get a hand on the ball before it rippled the back of the net.

I don't know how many times this season I have seen Yeovil taking the lead or equalising on the Riverside half time scoreboard only to hear later that they had conceded and capitulated afterwards. And within a minute of pegging Boro back they gifted the ball back to us for Danny Graham to return the complement to Ledesma and finding his team mate in the box. Ledesma blasted home as if striking a penalty.

There was further first half goal anguish at Huish Park for the home team. Jason Steele had been eager to set us forward with quick and accurate drop kicks up field. He was usually looking for Tomlin, always stationed well up field. A superb punt by Steele found Tomlin tearing into space deep in the Yeovil half and the former Posh player rounded their keeper before tucking the ball home from close range. An impressive break away goal.

Adam Reach came on for the second half, Boro kicking towards our terrace and side stand seating. We soon had a fourth goal to match the scoreline of the reverse fixture at the Riverside. It was a spectacular bicycle kick finish by Emmanuel Ledesma that finished a sweeping attacking move. Minutes later Danny Graham ought to have made it five as Boro threatened to romp it. Tomlin sped away and selflessly squared to Graham who somehow contrived to stab the ball wide with the goal completely at his mercy. Head in the hands time for Danny Graham.

Aitor Karanka brought on Morris for Whitehead who is tottering on the verge of a three match ban. Without the workload of Whitehead in midfield Boro lost some of their drive and intensity. Reach did batter a shot narrowly over the top and Butterfield and Tomlin were denied by blocks. The same fate befell a limping Ledesma who narrowly failed to grab his first Boro hat trick.

At the final whistle the Boro players and staff came over to greet the fans that had travelled through the night and morning to be present at the end. Boots, shirts and even a pair of shorts (Ledesma) were despatched to new homes in the away end. And then Albert jumped onto a podium in front of the main stand to join the equally skimpy attired girl singer/dancers in a dance routine as they entertained the Yeovil supporters before a lap of honour.

It was the final curtain of the season and as Steve Claridge said on the Football League Show later that night a finale with plenty of promise for next season. We have the core of a good side that could be up to the challenge next season. If we are to learn anything from Leicester and Burnley it is that you build on the playing experience from previous campaigns, you add and tweak the mix rather than throw everyone out and start again. If we look back over 2014 we will see that our efforts dipped twice when we attempted a big change of personnel, first after the January transfer window (starting away at Doncaster) then secondly for the Easter fixtures. Players like Tomlin, Ledesma, Whitehead, Varga and Gibson are now big performers and we can feel a little confidence if we build around them rather than ripping it up and starting again.

Have a good summer everyone – see you next season. It could just be a very good one.

Yeovil 1-4 Middlesbrough – scorers Graham, Ledesma (2), Tomlin