Sunderland U18 2 Nottingham Forest U18 2
Neville Pilkington
It took a late Forest equaliser to deny Sunderland victory in an excellent game at the Academy of Light on Saturday afternoon.
Both sides played attractive passing football in perfect damp, still conditions.
Academy Director Ged McNamee was in charge of the game as coach Kevin Ball was away coaching in the West Indies.
Forest opened the better side and in the 12th minute a defensive error led to the ball being crossed in from the right. Forest's Ben Osborn struck for goal but Sunderland keeper Johnny Maddison, making his debut at this level, pulled off a brilliant reaction save from point blank range.
But after 18 minutes, the East Midlanders did take the lead when striker Pat Bamford was not closed down in the box and was allowed to turn and shoot across Maddison to score in off the far post.
Sunderland came back to level on 28 minutes when a super run and cross by Anthony Callaghan was anticipated by Jordan Laidler enabling to come sliding in and level.
Ten minutes before the break Kieran Martin let fly with a surprise shot which flew just wide.
The score was still level at the break with a Sunderland side which contained seven first years giving a good account of themselves against older opposition.
Both sides cancelled each other out in the second period until the 80 minute when the young Black Cats regained the lead. Laidler was so unlucky two minutes before the breakthrough when his header crashed against the bar following another great Callaghan run and cross.
However, this time he met a centre from Adam Mitchell with a strike which was blocked by keeper Scott Furlong. Mitchell turned the ball back goalwards but it was handled off the line by a defender. Laidler was not to be denied and rammed home a second shot and a goal was given instead of a penalty.
It looked good for the hosts but deep into injury time, Forest equalised with Bamford claiming a second as he volleyed a left wing cross past Maddison.
Sunderland still had time to go flat out for a winner and Laidler was so unlucky when his last second strike was deflected over the bar by the keeper's leg.
Ged McNamee said afterwards: "I thought we did enough to win - poor decisions cost us dearly but overall we played well."
Sunderland: Maddison, Reece Noble, Callaghan, Martin (Oliver, 70), McNamee, Gibbons, Holland (Cartwright, 63), Gorrin, Laidler, Honeyman (Lane, 82), Mitchell.
Subs not used: Dixon, Mandron.
