Derby County 0-4 SAFC U21 Sunderland Under-21s registered their first three points of the Premier League 2 season in some style on Sunday afternoon, putting Derby County to the sword. Max Thompson’s hat-trick went some way to securing the away win, with Owen Robinson capping a fine display with a goal of his own. John Hewitson named a strong XI for the contest at the Rams’ training complex, as Thompson led the line in attack. Robinson, Caden Kelly and Michael Spellman in behind caused problems all afternoon, with Jacob Carney captaining the side in goal. The game began with a slow build-up, with the first shot in anger coming from Derby – George Nunn firing wide. But almost immediately, this spurred the Lads into action and Thompson opened his account for the season. Kelly was enabled space to cut in on his right foot and force Harrison Foulkes into a save to his left, but the ball could only be parried to Spellman. His cutback left Thompson with a simple tap-in, to give Sunderland a half-time lead. The closest the Lads came to doubling the lead before the break came on the stroke of half-time, when Foulkes pulled off an outstanding reflex save to tip Spellman’s fierce strike onto the post. But the second was to come just before the hour, as Robinson marauded inside from the right flank, beating two defenders in the process, and lifting it towards the head of Thompson who made no mistake. By this point, Hewitson’s youngsters were firmly in control and were regularly winning the ball high up the pitch. Spellman and Robinson both went close, but the latter was eventually on target as he latched onto a ball 30 yards out, advanced into the area and slotted home his first Sunderland goal. Debutant Connor Pye would make his bow for the club late on, Callum Wilson also earning minutes near the end, and the scoring was not to finish there. After Spellman had rolled a big chance inches wide and Kelly had lofted a free-kick narrowly off target, Thompson made it four after Ben Middlemas had robbed Derby of possession, leaving the striker with a clear glance of the hat-trick – to which he duly obliged. Following the victory, Hewitson said of the performance: “It was the ideal response to last week against Aston Villa. “We executed the gameplan well, winning the ball high up the pitch – and we certainly grew into the game to perform better in the second half. “We’ll take the positives from today and continue to learn from our mistakes in previous games, as we move forward.” The young Lads will now look to build on the convincing victory against West Bromwich Albion at Eppleton a week on Monday. SAFC U21: Carney ©, Kachosa (Wilson 78’), Jessup, Johnson, Newall, Chiabi (Pye 76’), Middlemas, Robinson, Spellman, Kelly, Thompson. Subs not used: Bond, Bainbridge, Burke.
Lads .......1 - 0 u21s .......4 - 0 u18s........3 - 2 SAFC W 1 - 1 Not a bad weekend at all for all things SAFC