Match report- Sunderland Academy #2

Match report produced for Sunderland AFC match day programme, November 2006:

It was a physical Wear-Tees derby at the Academy of Light, as Sunderland and Middlesborough battled to a draw.

Neither team took hold of the game in the first twenty minutes. There were half chances for both sides, the best being a charged down shot from England U19 international Nathan Porrit.

The deadlock was broken after 23 minutes by the visitors, with right-back Jason Honeyman taking a return pass before gathering his own shot off the post and stabbing home.

With Sunderland now pressing for an equaliser, tough tackles were flying in left, right and centre. Bookings for Boro’s Herold Ghoulon and Sunderland’s Robbie Weir sandwiched a chance for Dave Dowson, which flew over the bar.

Two minutes before the break the young Black Cat’s finally got back on level terms. Jordan Henderson found himself in some space down the right flank, and sent in a fantastic cross for Joshua Home-Jackson to nod into the bottom corner.

The second half was just as physical as the first. Sunderland started brightest with shots from Weir and Henderson being blocked. Middlesborough went ahead again thought due to some misfortune for Sunderland’s Michael Kay. As the ball was flashed across the front of Sunderland’s goal, Kay attempted to clear only to find the back of his own net.

Sunderland would not be beaten though, and their endeavour was rewarded when a stunning strike from Dowson sailed into the goal from the edge of the box. This encouraged Sunderland who went on to dominate possession. Sadly, two gilt-edged chances for Henderson and a one-on-one for Dowson could not create the win for the home side.