Stockton Town 1-4 Sunderland U23
Safc.com’s Sam Lightle reviews the action from Stockton Town this evening.
THE WRAP
Sunderland under-23s did what they had to do to overcome a hardworking Stockton Town side this evening.
Chris Allan and Dan Wright struck inside the opening nine minutes to assert their authority on the cup tie before Sonny Best and Jordan Hickey added to the scoreline before the break.
Alan Cossavella deservedly pulled a goal back for Stockton, who fought to the final whistle.But Sunderland had done the damage in the first period and booked their place in the third round of the Durham County Challenge Cup.
NEW YEAR NEW CHANGES
With victories over Annfield Plain and Hartlepool already in this competition, Elliott Dickman’s Black Cats headed to Stockton-on-Tees with high hopes of advancing further in the Durham County Challenge Cup. Utilising his squad to the full, Dickman opted too start Rees Greenwood while under-18 regulars Hickey and Best also featured from the off. Ryan Leonard and Tom Scothern enjoyed their first involvement for the under-23s as they begun the evening on the bench.
NO JANUARY BLUES
Fresh and gunning to impress from a Christmas break, Dickman’s side made light work of the cup tie in the opening stages, and raced into a 2-0 lead inside 10 minutes. Allan broke the deadlocked with a thunderous bullet from range on five minutes before Greenwood toyed with Stockton’s backline before Wright slipped in behind to hammer a low strike past Liam Jordan.
BATTLING SPIRIT
Sunderland gained their lead in a flash, confidently slicing their way through the Stockton lines. But the visitors seemed to take their foot off the gas for the next 10 which allowed the hosts the chance to get a hold of the ball and carve out a few half chances. The Black Cats weathered the storm, mind, before Best rounded off another clinical attack. Josh Robson strode into the box from the left flank, his cross rebounded off Best and against the post, but the midfielder reacted quickest as a goalmouth scramble ensued and tapped the ball home.
DETERMINED FOURTH
Stockton moved the ball well in spells but struggled defensively to get to grips with Sunderland’s enthusiastic front line as Owen Gamble’s pulled a ball back from the right byline into a dangerous area and then Jack Diamond dragged his effort wide. Hickey added a fourth in a rampant first 45 display, incisively latching onto a lax pass before showing sheer pace to get to the ball before the final defender and then the keeper to slot home into an empty net.
DOUBLE CHANGE
Scothern gained his first taste of under-23s football when Dickman introduced him for goalscorer Hickey at the break. Jean Yves-Poame also came on as he replaced Diamond in the Black Cats’ line of attack. But the double switch seemed to disrupt the head of steam the lads had built in the opening period, with Michael Woud being forced into action twice in as many minutes at the start of the second 45.
ONE BACK
There was very little between the sides as time ticked by, Stockton continued to dig deep but Sunderland seemed content with their evening’s work having gained a substantial lead in the first period. Greenwood did well to draw a stop from Jordan, a weaving run saw him come inside off the left flank before a drop of the shoulder worked a yard of space for him to test the Stockton stopper at his near post. Jordan Carter provided a bright spark for the hosts, seizing possession off Wright, sliding in Kevin Hayes who saw his effort snuffed out by Allan. But the hosts did deservedly pull one back in the 82nd minute when Cossavella telegraphed a ball over the top and then confidently rolled it past Woud.
Stockton Town: Jordan, Garbutt, Ward, Cossavella, D Mulligan (Nicholson, 54), Coulthard, Haye, N Mulligan, Coleman, Woodhouse, Risbrough
Subs: Carter, Stockton, Owens, Dunwell,
Sunderland U23: Woud, Gamble, Robson, Hickey (Scothern, 45), Taylor, Storey, Allan, Best (Leonard, 60), Diamond (Poame, 45), Wright, Greenwood.
Subs: Patterson
Attendance: 326