Elliott Dickman admitted his side’s first-half display against Stockton Town last night provided many pleasing aspects.
Sunderland under-23s roared into a 2-0 lead inside the opening nine minutes, with Chris Allan netting a bullet from range before Dan Wright stabbed home a slipped pass from Rees Greenwood.
Sonny Best then added a third midway through the first period, and then Jordan Hickey capped a rampant 45-minute showing with a fourth to send the Black Cats on their way to the third round of the Durham County Challenge Cup.
Alan Cossavella pulled one back in the 82nd minute for Stockton, but the damage was done in the first 45 from Sunderland, leaving Dickman delighted with the outcome.
“I was very pleased with our first-half performance and I thought we took our four goals very well,” he said.
“In the second half we wanted to do the same thing, but we controlled the game in a different way.
“I was disappointed to concede a goal in the manner that we did but overall it was a positive display.
“The young lads did smashing; Sonny and Jordan have been training with us over the Christmas period.
“They have done great and against, Tom Scothern came on, so did Ryan Leonard so it was a good opportunity to see that those lads could do.
“These lads are still only 16-17 so for them to experience playing against a Northern League side who are doing very well in their league it’s great.”
