U18s: Sunderland 1 United 2

The Black Cats took the lead when Caleb Shakespeare seized upon a mistake at the back to net the opener, before Louie Bradbury headed us back level.

Sunderland were then awarded a penalty when Nkoto fouled inside the area, before Jay Matadeen stepped up to restore the hosts' advantage.

Noah Ajayi had the chance to earn a point late on when Junior Brown was brought down in the box. Unfortunately his spot-kick was saved by Sunderland goalkeeper Joseph Cowan.

FIRST HALF

As has been the case throughout our U18 Premier League campaign, early goals have been something of a regular occurrence.

A mistake at the back led to the opener, as James Barker pressed well to earn an opportunity that was finished by Caleb Shakespeare for 1-0.

Just five minutes later, our young Reds hit back, with Jay McEvoy's corner headed home by Bradbury at the near post, to once again level proceedings.

But on 14 minutes, Darren Fletcher's side fell behind again in the game, as Nkoto fouled Matadeen inside the box.

Referee Samuel Packer awarded a penalty and it was Matadeen who stepped up to make it 2-1, sending goalkeeper Freddie Heath wrong way.

Jariyah Shah was teed up by Bradbury as we attempted to get back on level terms once more, with his shot easily saved by Joseph Cowan.

Heath then made a big stop to deny Shakespeare another goal soon after, before Bradbury's speculative effort from the halfway line rounded off the first-half action.

SECOND HALF

Heath made a solid stop to deny Matadeen as Sunderland looked to add a third to their tally after the break.

Shah was fouled by Kay Munyakazi and that enabled him a take free-kick in a dangerous area soon after. His set-piece found Rafe McCormack, who headed back goalwards but that was easily gathered in the end by Cowan.

The Black Cats then cleared off the line as Ajayi teed up Shah, who looks to bend one into the far corner, which was eventually cleared by Arron Bowman at the last second.

Bowman then hit one post and Matadeen hit the other in a succession of attempts for the hosts, as United some how survived a scare at the back.

But there was to be more late drama in the north east, as Brown was hacked down in the area by goalkeeper Cowan.

Ajayi stepped up in injury time to level, but his effort from 12 yards was saved and our last chance at a leveller went amiss.

MATCH DETAILS

Sunderland: Cowan; Walton; Makepeace, Hamilton-Forsyth, Bowman; Burns, Munyakazi (Struk 86), Shakespeare (Brown 60); Wilson (Hunter 82), Matadeen, Barker.

Subs not used: Robertson.

Booked: Hamilton-Forsyth, Brown, Cowan.

Goals: Shakespeare 4, Matadeen 14.

United: Heath; Overy, Emsden-James (G.Ibragimov 88), McCormack, Plunkett (Brown 63); McEvoy, Shah, Camacho Sidos (O'Brien 63); D.Nkoto, Ajayi, Bradbury.

Subs not used: Z.Watson, Helafu.

Goals: Bradbury 9.