Middlesbrough U18 1 Sunderland U18 2
Neville Pilkington
Tactical capability led to Sunderland gaining a fine win over Middlesbrough at the Hurworth training ground.
Conditions were fine but with a cold wind when the game started as Sunderland took the game to the hosts from the start.
They pressed the Teessiders continually and this led to them taking the lead after 15 minutes. It was Glen Lane who won the ball on the edge of the box and then went on to bend a delightful shot round the keeper.
It took only three more minutes of pinning the hosts back by good covering before they went two up with Alex Gorrin hitting a right footed shot home, angling the ball across the keeper.
The containment continued until the break when Boro came out to take the game to Sunderland.
In the 51st minute they pulled a goal back when the Wearsiders lost the ball in midfield allowing Boro to break down the left and score.
But the young Black Cats were largely in control for the rest of the game, keeping their shape well to give a compact, professional performance which was the platform for a deserved win.
Coach Kevin Ball said: "It was a difficult game against a good Boro side but we managed a nice away win."
Sunderland: Pickford, Oliver, Burn, McNamee, Callaghan, Martin, Lane (Holland, 88), Gorrin (Brace, 55), Honeyman, Laidler, Mandron (Thomas, 61).
