SUMMARY Patience was the key at Mariners Park as Sunderland under-23s narrowly overcame South Shields this evening. Ethan Robson dispatched a penalty on six minutes to give the lads the lead before Tom Beadling drove home a low free-kick from 20 yards after Sunderland had done well to keep the Mariners at bay. Carl Finnigan halved the deficit on 73 minutes to set-up a grandstand finish, but the lads withheld the brunt of their attack and restored their two-goal cushion shortly before the end through second-half substitute Owen Gamble. TEAM NEWS Elliott Dickman was once again able to make the most of a strong starting XI at his disposal. Ethan Robson began the evening in the middle of the park while Beadling featured alongside Alex Storey in the heart of defence. Chris Allan came in for Lynden Gooch and second-year scholar Jack Diamond once again made an appearance on the left flank. ROB-BER STAMPED It was an assured opening from the Black Cats who utilised the ball well when they had possession, moving it from side to side and playing it long to the ever-industrious lone striker Andrew Nelson when they needed to. Credit to Shields, though, who started brightly and made the lads work extremely hard despite failing to really test James Talbot between the posts. The Black Cats broke the deadlock on seven minutes when Diamond was clipped inside the area, leaving the referee with a decision to make. A second’s thought saw him point to the spot, presenting Robson with the perfect chance to put the lads ahead. The midfielder, who has been clinical from the spot all pre-season, made no mistake from 12 yards, sending the ‘keeper to his left and the ball the other side. Shortly after, it could’ve easily been 2-0. Patient play from Dickman’s side saw them really put their mark on the game, calmly sweeping the ball across field before Luke Molyneux collected it on the right flank. The mazy winger came off the right touchline and cut back, leaving the Shields defender trailing in his wake before lifting a ball into the box. Molyneux’s ball teased Shields’ backline but Diamond and Nelson were both unable to make clean contact and the chance went amiss. WING WIZARDRY The intricate play of Molyneux was a sight to behold. He was gliding past players with effortless ease, breezing this way and that as he left Shields’ backline trailing in his wake. The hosts managed to get some grip on the game, but it merely stretched the general ebb and flow. Molyneux tested Shields’ ‘keeper with two rasping drives from range, both causing havoc to keep hold as the wind carried them with even more ferocity. Sunderland were turning the screw as the half-time whistle sounded but it arguably came a moment too soon as they were in the ascendancy. FOOT ON THE THROTLE The message from the Shields dressing room at half-time was simple – get back into the game. Sunderland were on the ropes for the opening few minutes, Chris Allan being called into action to head clear off the line before the follow-up was sliced a fraction wide of the post. Moments later, the lads almost applied the perfect response – Robson strode forward on the break from deep and let fly from 25 yards. The midfielder’s effort swayed to left as the wind caught hold and flashed inches wide of the mark. Breathe. ON THE ROPES Well, breathe only slightly. Shields continued to ramp up the pressure as time ticked by, holding the ball well and making the visitors run, chase and harry. And their efforts were almost rewarded. A venomous drive from 25 yards, flicked off a helpless Sunderland body – almost wrong-footing Talbot between the sticks. The Irish stopper somehow got a glove to the ball and managed to divert it onto the post. Shields reacted quickest to the follow-up but as it was rammed home the linesman raised his flag to rule the goal offside. Can we breathe now? BEAD THE WAY No is the answer. Shortly after, Sunderland doubled their advantage through a drilled free-kick from 20 yards from Beadling. South Shields reduced the arrears to set-up a tense finale and ignite the home crowd as the floodlights began to light the centre stage at Mariners park. Finnigan halved the deficit on 73 minutes, incisively slotting the ball between the feet of Talbot from close range. Game on. GAMBLE OR NOT? Sunderland certainly did and the introduction of Gamble for Diamond brought a fresh impetuous to proceedings for the Black Cats. A much needed one too. Gamble was lively in the 15 minutes that he featured, and wrapped up victory at Mariners Park as he slotted home Nelson’s threaded pass. Game over. Attendance: 1,405 Sunderland U23: Talbot, J Robson, Hume, Beadling, Storey, E Robson, Allan, Bale, Molyneux, Diamond (Gamble, 77), Nelson South Shields: Trialist (Trialist, 45), Baxter (Nicholson, 45), Callaghan, Briggs, Morse (Lough, 45), Storey, Smith (c) (Stephenson, 45), Pattison, Finnigan, Richardson, Blinco (Sullivan, 45).
Really rate Molyneux from what I've seen of him. Was hoping he'd have got a squad number and have been in and around the bench this season
