Mark Atkinson has heralded his young side following their pleasing Premier League victory over Stoke City on Saturday.
Jack Diamond scored a brace as Sunderland under-18s secured all three points at Clayton Wood to move them off the foot of the table.
Following a goalless first period the young Black Cats rallied five minutes after the restart, Diamond netting his first of the afternoon as he turned well before driving home.
The pacey winger then notched his second five minutes from the end, this time latching onto Jake Hackett’s perfectly weighted slipped pass to put the game beyond the hosts.
Speaking to safc.com, Atkinson praised his players as they rounded off the first stage of their domestic campaign with a win.
“It was a very pleasing performance and it was a good experience for our first years,” he said.
“They have found it a tough season but I think they are finally seeing the benefits of it.
“We’ve played a lot of first year scholars for most of the season so they are used to the demands and that showed as they were my physical.
“It was good for them and there were a lot of pleasing performances across our team,” he continued.
“We lacked quality in the final third in the first period but after the restart we did much better and Jack scored two really good goals.”
