To view:

Please click an article on the right-hand side, or browse at your leisure
Showing posts with label academy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label academy. Show all posts

Monday, 7 April 2008

Match report- Sunderland Academy #1

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

The young Black Cats consolidated their place at the top of the U18 league with a scrappy 3-1 win over Derby County.

Joshua Home-Jackson opened the scoring after thirteen minutes, nodding in at the near post from a Jordan Henderson cross. The lead was short lived though, as Derby striker Karl Ashton latched onto a through ball to equalise.

Most of the first half was under Sunderland’s control. First Nathan Luscombe hit a lofted ball from Michael Liddle first time, only for the ball to veer wide, then, with Sunderland looking to regain the lead, a thunderbolt from Jack Colback cannoned off the crossbar.

With mist and wind picking up in the second half, much of the play was in the midfield, with both teams grappling for the ball. Midway into the half, Kevin Ball’s side started to take the initiative, heralded by a Jamie Chandler shot and goal-mouth scramble.

On 65 minutes the Black Cats finally took the lead. Both full backs linked up superbly with Liddle heading home a cross from Michael Kay.

Less than ten minutes later the home team sealed the win with another cross and header, this time Luscombe glancing in a corner.

Derby pressed for some consolation in the dying moments, and caused some discomfort with an attacking free kick as the final whistle approached. Sunderland’s defence held firm, and the match ended with a well earned three points.

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.