Crewe Alexandra U18 0 Sunderland U18 1
Neville Pilkington

Group leaders Sunderland had to work hard down in Cheshire in order to grind out a single goal win on a cold dry day at Crewe.

Crewe have an excellent reputation at Youth level and have enjoyed a good season but the win for Sunderland, although a narrow one, was fully merited.

They started well and Adam Mitchell shot just past the post after only two minutes. Then Louis Laing, completing his first full game after a long-term injury and doing well, brought the ball out of defence to find Nathan Wilson who forced a good save.

The same player went close twice as Sunderland stepped up the pace and Adam Mitchell should have possibly scored but the keeper got his angles right, forcing the shot just wide.

The breakthrough came two minutes before the break when the visitors did take the lead with a well-worked goal. Liam Noble played a precise one-two with Jordan Laidler to go clear and finish well into the bottom corner.

However, Crewe hit back to almost level just before the half time whistle when a ball was deflected on to the bar following a corner.

Ben Wilson, in the Sunderland goal, showed good handling and decision making throughout and on the hour mark produced a super save from a fierce, well timed volley.

Kevin Ball's lads did have lots of play in the second period but didn't really penetrate. But they should have clinched the game with a second goal one minute before time when Ryan Noble made a great run to pull back for sub Matthew Fletcher to connect well only to see the Crewe keeper pull off a brilliant save.

Coach Kevin Ball summed up the game by saying: "We did enough overall to deserve the win - our front two of Ryan Noble and Jordan Laidler haven't played together very much and this showed at times but I was happy with the result."

Sunderland: B Wilson, Marrs, Madden, Laing, Adams, N Wilson, L Noble, Mitchell (Wood, 65), Elliott, R Noble, Laidler (Fletcher, 75).