Newcastle United U23s 2-0 Sunderland U23s
Sunderland under-23s fell to defeat at the hands of Newcastle United on Friday night in the Premier League 2.
A goal either side of half-time was enough to down the young Black Cats, despite the Lads creating the best opportunities throughout.
Thomas Allan put the hosts ahead after just two minutes, but Sunderland responded well and created chance after chance, the best falling to trialist Frost.
The Magpies made Sunderland pay for the missed opportunities and Yannick Toure headed home with 20 minutes left, as Sunderland came away from Tyneside empty handed.
Joe Hugill once again led the line for Elliott Dickman’s side, after bagging a brace last time out against West Ham United.
Dickman also named trialists Stan Asomugha, Frost and Tyler Hamilton in his starting XI at St James’ Park.
Newcastle drew first blood in the mini Wear Tyne derby after just two minutes, when Allen latched onto Rosaire Longelo’s cut-back and prodded home.
Sunderland grew into the game as the first-half went on through, and created a number of chances that could have seen them draw level.
The Lads’ first opportunity came in the 11th minute through Bali Mumba, when he picked the ball up deep ad drove at the Magpies’ defence, before unleashing a 30-yard strike that was straight at Jake Turner.
Newcastle had the lion’s share of possession, but Sunderland looked dangerous on the counterattack time after time.
The Black Cats’ best chance of the half came just before the half hour mark, when trialist Frost beat the offside trap, but fired inches wide of the post as he raced in on goal.
Hugill then went inches away from grabbing a deserved equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
The 16-year-old played a neat one two with Frost, but couldn’t quite connect with the trialist’s through ball to prod it home.
Sunderland continued to push for an equaliser after the break and squandered a huge chance to level proceedings in the 54th minute.
Owen Gamble’s inch perfect through ball released Asomugha and he poked the ball towards goal, but Turner was sharp down to his right to somehow keep his side ahead.
And Sunderland were made to rue a number of missed opportunities when the Magpies doubled their lead with 20 minutes remaining.
Target man Toure jumped highest to meet Longelo’s corner and send a powerful header in off the post to seal three points for the Magpies.
Newcastle U23s: Turner, Sterry, McEntee, Gibson (Wilson 61), Walters (Cass 43), Young, Anderson, Allan, Longelo, Sørensen, Touré (Fernandez 81)
Subs not used: Harker, Sangare
Sunderland U23s: Patterson, Mumba, Gamble (Evans 74), Sammut, Taylor, Bainbridge, Asonutha (Dunne 67), Hackett, Hugill, Frost, Hamilton (Slack 86).
Subs not used: Edmundsson, Abdelkader
