A Roarie Deacon inspired Sunderland reserve side saw off visitors Birmingham City in this afternoon's friendly at the Academy of Light. The former Arsenal man impressed on the left wing for Keith Bertschin's side and was duly rewarded for his performance when he scored the opening goal and set up the second. Deacon broke the deadlock on the 55th minute after being a thorn in Birmingham's side for most of the opening period. Sunderland sealed the victory with a second goal when a trialist found the back of the net right on the stroke of fulltime. Bertschin fielded a strong team for the friendly encounter with the Midlands outfit and the windy conditions at the Academy of Light meant it was a tough test for both teams. Sunderland were quick off the mark in the game and threatened to score twice in the opening five minutes. Jordan Watson passed the ball onto Deacon who zipped down the left but his final shot into the box was saved by the City stopper. Deacon was in the thick of the action moments later when he knocked the ball down to striker Ryan Noble who was also denied by the visiting keeper. Birmingham's first real attack came in the 18th minute, it was a weak effort and it was sent well-wide of Ben Wilson's goal, posing no real threat. Sunderland responded to that chance as defender John Egan threaded the ball through to Deacon, following Wilson's goal kick, he drilled a low-shot right into the keeper's arms. Bertschin's men ended the first half the brightest of the two teams, with Noble going close to scoring and the ever-industrious David Meyler blasting a free kick into the City wall seconds before the break. Sunderland's patience paid off in the second half as Deacon found a way through 10-minutes after the restart. He fired a left-footed shot past the keeper from 10 yards out to make it 1-0 The Black Cats held onto their lead and looked the stronger side the longer the game went on as keeper Wilson was rarely tested in a match marred by the windy conditions. Moments before the final whistle Sunderland doubled their lead to secure the friendly win. Deacon outwitted the City to keeper to unleash the ball into the path of the Sunderland triallist who pounced to tap the ball into the back of the net with literally the last kick of the game. Sunderland: Wilson, Marrs, Watson, Egan, Liddle, Elliot, Deacon, Meyler (Reed 70), Gorrin, Tounkara, Noble (Trialist 60) This is a bit strange don't you this????? Why not name a player..
Looking at this again, there's a terrific headline waiting to happen when Gorrin scores - Gerrin Gorrin! Coat?
As for the identity of the player, I did hear from my mates mate who knows a guy that delivered a parcel to MON once, that MON got a call from Messi who was interested in learning from Sess.
No prizes for guessing who.. Sunderland footballer Nicklas Bendtner has been banned from driving for 56 days and fined £660 after he was caught speeding in his Porsche. The 24-year-old striker was clocked at 103mph on the Woolsington bypass, near Newcastle Airport, in December. Newcastle magistrates were told he was on his way to the airport and was late for a flight. The player, who is on loan from Arsenal, was not in court. He had earlier admitted speeding. The Danish international striker was recorded doing 103.6mph for a distance of 0.137 miles by a police Vascar system installed in a patrol car. The court was told the player was in Denmark for "contractual obligations" and was deemed to not be absent from court because he was legally represented at the hearing. 'No trouble' Barry Warburton, defending, said: "I understand he was going to Newcastle Airport, he was slightly late for a flight and unfortunately he speeded. "It was a Saturday morning, there was very little traffic on the road and weather conditions were fine. "Not withstanding the fact he is in Denmark, he has been absolutely no trouble to anybody. In my respectful submission, your public duty can be discharged by treating him with leniency." The solicitor said his client had "substantial" disposable income and could pay the fine immediately with a credit card. Chairman of the bench Edward Wardrobe imposed the 56-day driving ban, and fined the footballer £660, plus £30 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. No penalty points were added to the three Bendtner has on his licence
