Sunderland Suffer Quick Deja Vu with City

SAFC Reserves 1 – 3 MCFC Reserves

After making the trek up to the north east through all types of weather conditions to Sunderland’s new reserve venue as their old stomping ground of Durham has an artificial pitch and so premier league rules will not allow reserve games to be played on these surfaces. And so they have found themselves a very nice little ground called Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground in Hetton-le-Hole. Fortunately the evening turned out to be very pleasant both on the pitch and in terms of the weather and a decent crowd of 1125 turned up to see this entertaining game. A top quality display by Welsh U21 striker Ched Evans with a fine hat-trick ensured that City returned to the North West with all three points to sit second in the table, just like their first team counterparts. Sunderland scored with a fine strike from left winger Billy Dennehy from a short free kick on the right of the area.

Both sides played out a good competitive football match with either side willing to go forwards at all opportunities whilst playing neat football, but it was City’s finishing that told on the result of the game. City showed their intent of the game by winning a corner inside the first 40 seconds of the game, this intent was shown on the twelfth minute when Ched Evans quickly played the ball out wide for Kelvin Etuhu to run to the by-line with and cross to the waiting Evans who took a touch before firing into the bottom corner that goalkeeper Trevor Carson got the faintest of touches to.

Ten minutes later Ched did well to turn and shoot on target, but Carson was able to parry the ball away. Ched only had to wait a minute to double his tally when Ashley Grimes played a good ball through for Ched to run onto and he finished into the far corner.

The second half started with Sunderland showing some real purpose to their play and veteran Graham Kavanagh pulling most of the strings in midfield. So it was relief to see Richard Martin be in top form once again as he pulled of fine saves in the first half and an even better one from one time Irish international Ian Harte fired in a great free kick that Martin did very well to save.

Sunderland deservedly gained a goal back, but it was the circumstances that the goal came as Karl Moore was adjudged to have fouled the Sunderland player when quite clearly it was one of the best timed and cleanest tackles you have seen. The free kick was played short and Dennehy was able to fire in through a rook of players and probably the unsighted Martin.

City had an enforced change with Etuhu tiring up with his older sibling watching on after a good work out to be replaced by the hard working central midfielder, Michael Daly. Within a minute of that change Ched scored his hat-trick goal and City’s third. Again it was Grimes who was the provider as he slipped the ball through and Ched ran on and fired at the near post past Carson.

City now have a week of, but next play Sunderland’s local rivals, Newcastle on Tuesday 2nd October at Mini COMS.


Sunderland: Carson(GK), Weir, Donoghue (Pelter 67), Hartley, Harte, Henderson, Kavanagh (Colback 64), Chandler(Capt), Dowson, Waghorn, Dennehy.

Subs: Luscombe, Cook, Kay


City: Martin(GK), Vidal, Williamson(Capt.), Breen, McDonald, Laird, Etuhu(M Daly 64), Clayton, Evans(D Ball 89), Grimes(Marshall 83), Moore.

Subs: Mentel(GK), Mee.


Att: 1125.