Middlesbrough U18 1-1 Sunderland U18
Sunderland under-18s kept up their resurgence in the league on Saturday as they took a point at Middlesbrough.
It could so easily have been all three, though, had Cole Kiernan’s second half strike not been cancelled out by Alberto Balde Almanzar’s leveller 12 minutes from time.
With four points collected from their two previous U18 Premier League fixtures, Paul Bryson’s side made the short journey to Teesside with high hopes of taking more points.
And despite a goalless opening 45, the Black Cats seized control of the fixtures moments after the hour mark when Kiernan finished well to net his third goal in as many games.
Boro, though, dominated the stats as they shaded possession – and eventually that told as Balde Almanzar capitalised to ensure the points were split at Rockcliffe.
The result sees Boro remain sixth while Sunderland are two places behind with six points from as many games.
Sunderland under-18s: Cameron, Howard, Ord (Derbali, 79), Edmundsson, Evans, Brotherton, Neill, Slack, Best, Leonard, Kiernan (Hackett, 87)
Subs: Bond, Miller, Smith