Sunderland Under-18s made it three league victories on the bounce with a thrilling 5–3 win away at Liverpool in the Under-18 Premier League. Goals from Bayley Hester, Jay Matadeen, Liam Hunt, Marcus Neill, and Lewis Campbell secured all three points for Jordan Moore and Fin Lynch’s side. Former Liverpool forward Neill netted his ninth goal in just four games against his former club, capping off another impressive attacking display from the young Black Cats. The hosts took the lead on the half-hour mark through Joe Bradshaw, but Sunderland responded swiftly. Hester levelled the scores with a calm finish before Matadeen fired home from close range to turn the game around before the break. Bradshaw struck again early in the second half to make it 2–2, yet Sunderland’s persistence paid off when Hunt restored the lead late on with a well-placed effort into the bottom corner. Liverpool equalised once more through Finn Inglethorpe in stoppage time, but Moore’s side showed tremendous resilience to respond yet again. Neill struck on the counter to make it 4–3 before Campbell sealed the win moments later, finishing low past the goalkeeper after a clever assist from Hunt. The Lads return to action next Saturday with a home clash against Stoke City.
Sunderland Under-21s fell to a 2-0 defeat away at Nottingham Forest on Monday night in the Premier League 2. Two goals in the space of 11 second-half minutes from Lamin Sillah and Adam Berry sealed Forest’s victory. Graeme Murty made seven changes from Wednesday’s 2-2 draw against RSC Anderlecht Futures, with Ethan Moore, Felix Scott and Rhys Walsh all returning to the starting 11 to spearhead the attack. The Lads saw the first real opportunity of the match, as Moore’s darting run forward led to a low teasing cross, which narrowly evaded Scott only yards from goal. Moore tested the Forest ‘keeper once again, but his drilled effort rifled into the gloves of Luke Campbell. The hosts began to dominate proceedings but failed to create anything that really troubled Ben Metcalf, with Zyan Blake’s header missing the target. In the second half, Forest continued to see the better openings, as Berry’s deflected effort fell into the gloves of Metcalf, before Jimmy Sinclair’s curling shot was punched away. After 71 minutes, Forest took the lead, when Sillah dribbled past one Sunderland defender, before side-footing a finish past Metcalf. The Lads sought a response, as Jack Whittaker’s shot dropped into the midriff of Campbell, before Moore drilled an effort goalwards; only to be denied by the Forest ‘keeper. However, the hosts doubled their lead, when Berry drove into the penalty area, before firing an effort past Metcalf and into the near post. The Lads return to PL2 action on Friday night, as they host league-leaders Ipswich Town at Eppleton (7pm kick-off). Sunderland U21: Metcalf, Holcroft, Kindon, Johnson (Neild 51’), Lightfoot, Burke (Jaydon Jones 45’), Middlemas, Whittaker (Dinsdale 87’), Moore, Scott (Waters 74‘), Walsh Subs not used: Cowan
