Lee Connelly scored twice as Sunderland under-18s ran out convincing winners in their opening pre-season fixture against Gateshead College on Saturday.
After a tense opening to the game, Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka broke the deadlock with a drilled free-kick from the edge of the box midway through the first-half.
Jake Hackett then handed Sunderland a two-goal cushion when his strike found a way past Gateshead’s stopper in the 70th minute.
While the visitors continued to work hard, Connelly’s energetic class came to the floor in the closing stages as he executed a fine chip before later netting his second after good link up play with Hackett.
Following a positive first week of pre-season where under-18’s coach Elliott Dickman voiced his delight over how well the new-look youth team had gelled, Gateshead College posed the first test ahead of the new 2016-17 U18 Premier League campaign.
With the purpose of this initial friendly to help the new faces settle into Sunderland’s style of play and help them get used to the basic game plans, Dickman can take plenty of positives away from what he saw.
While the visitors dominated the opening stages, the young Black Cats kept good shape and frustrated Gateshead as they struggled to break down their defensive rear guard.
Despite it taking time for Sunderland to settle into their rhythm, first-year scholar Jack Diamond looked a constant threat on the right-hand side as his pace and trickery saw him get in behind on numerous occasions in the first 20 minutes.
Gateshead went closest to breaking the deadlock first after 25 minutes when a free-kick from the edge of the box fizzed just inches wide of Michael Woud’s post.
However, just two minutes later Sunderland were presented with an almost identical set-piece at the other end but this time Mbunga-Kimpioka was able to fire beyond a helpless ‘keeper to put hosts ahead.
Mbunga-Kimpioka’s tireless work ethic continued to shine through in the opening 45, and he almost doubled the Lads’ advantage when an incisive counter attack saw him breeze past a host of defenders before seeing his shot well saved by the ‘keeper’s feet.
The second half saw Sunderland control much more of the match as they calmly knocked the ball around with Owen Gamble orchestrating large spells of play from deep.
But while the young Black Cats huffed and puffed, it took them until the 70th minute to double their advantage as Hackett’s long-range effort somehow managed to squirm underneath Gateshead’s stopper.
Moments later Connelly, who was extremely lively following his introduction at the break, cleverly got in behind the visitors backline and calmly lobbed the on rushing keeper to net his first goal for the club.
Connelly then bagged his second as he linked up well inside the area with Hackett before slotting home to round off the scoring and ensure a winning start to pre-season for the youth team
Sunderland under-18’s starting XI: Woud, Biwar, Hickey, Young, McAughtrie, Mbunga-Kimpioka, Allan, Bale, Gamble, Diamond, Trialist
