United Under-18s enjoy a big win on Wearside
United approached this fixture near Cleadon, north of the River Wear, with a marginally better rate of success on the road compared to that achieved when on home soil at the Aon Training Complex. Seven away matches prior to this one had seen them gather in nine points whilst at home the total was just one fewer from the same number of outings.
Meanwhile, Sunderland were concentrating on the mission to try and claim their very first win, home or away, in this season’s Under-18 Premier League North. Given their nickname’s association with luck, the Black Cats must have been enduring the most grievous adverse fortune in failing to win any of their fifteen games before facing United.
That remarkable statistic appeared to be even more astonishing during the opening exchanges when Sunderland looked lively and threatening. And they could have strode into the lead as early as the 3rd minute when trialist Nyan Mesuria raced down the left wing but just failed to put the finishing touch to what was a genuine opportunity.
