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Academy Go Out Of FA Youth Cup At Sunderland But Can Hold Their Heads High

FA Youth Cup Third Round, The Stadium of Light, 04 December 08 7pm kick off

Sunderland AFC 2

Cirencester Town 1

The Centurion youngsters had the worst possible start against last year's Semi-Finalists. Max Etheridge forced Michal Misiewicz into a tip over the bar in the first minute but then conceded a minute later.

A slick Sunderland move freed Liam Bagnall up the left for a shot from a tight angle that slipped through Adam Miller's gloves and over his shoulder into the back of the net.

Five minutes later Conor Hourihane, from Cork in Eire, had a clear chance after being set up 12 yards out and cleanly netted to give the Black Cats a comfortable 2 – 0 lead.

Ciren pulled themselves back into the game, though Sunderland were in control and making Ciren chase the game. Robert Hoskin managed to surge onto a neat pass from Jamie Moore on 36 minutes but his shot from the edge of the box was too close to Misiewicz

The second half was a game of Sunderland containing Ciren and rarely threatening Miller in the Ciren nets. With a two goal lead, they were comfortable.

On 75 minutes that changed. James Guthrie on the left forced a mistake from Blair Adams, skipped to the bye-line and Ethan Delaney was first to the ball at the near post to beat Misiewicz with a cheeky but effective back-heel.

Ciren upped the pressure and had Sunderland defending in depth to preserve their advantage. What looked like the Ciren equaliser from a header by Delaney off a James Guthrie free kick was chalked off for an unseen push on a defender and that was it.

Mr Sean Wimble, Assistant Manager, was disappointed for the lads.

“We had a good go at them but when you let two goals in that early on it changes the way their minds work. We had to work extra hard to make it difficult for them.”

“We mixed it up with the subs – Hosky is still feeling that knee injury he had a month ago so Ethan came on to make them think a bit. He had a fantastic twenty minutes. And James Turner had run himself ragged first half keeping them contained so Jake was the obvious player to put on to make them chase his passing ability.”

“Ethan Delaney scored a real strikers goal and we had them pushed back the last twenty but could not get that strike on goal we needed. I would say this but for the life of me I could see nothing wrong with that header. The boy was hanging in the air, made himself big, and it was a good strike”

“Fair play to Sunderland. Kevin Ball has coached them well. I appreciated the fact he took the trouble to have a word with our lads to congratulate them on the quality of their play. Our five First Years have gained valuable experience and we'll give it another good go next year.”

Sunderland: Michal Misiewicz, Blair Adams, Liam Bagnall, Matt Fletcher, Nathan Wilson, Ben Wilson, Ben Wood, David Brown, Joe Cornforth, Andrew Galer, Conor Hourihane [Gavin Scott 80]

subs: Liam Hubbock, Ryan Noble, Dan Madden

Cirencester: Adam Miller, Zack Westlake, Liam Williams, Jamie Moore (c), Adam Corcoran, Steve Groom, Dan Franklin [Ryan Thomas 68], James Turner [Jake Lloyd 60], Max Etheridge, Rob Hoskin [Ethan Delaney 60], James Guthrie
subs: Ashley Taylor, Tom Russell

Ref: Mr P Stalker    Att: 253     Cirencester MoM: Ethan Delaney

And here is the Sunderland view – different team line up. Different players to the official team sheet, even. But, hey, if that is the level of the media co-operation they showed on the night who am I to care? Their problems are a whole bunch bigger than ours, eh?

Sunderland AFC 2 Cirencester Town 1

Early goals from Blair Adams and Ben Wood were enough to put Sunderland into the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

The Black Cats were 2-0 ahead inside the first 10 minutes.

Full-back Adams scored from a tight angle in the fourth minute to give the home side the ideal start at the Stadium of Light.

Wood scored the second three minutes later, shooting past Adam Miller from 15 yards.

Midfielder Wood could have had a hat-trick against the non-League side who had got through five rounds to set up the visit to Sunderland.

Liam Hubbuck and substitute Andrew Galer went close in the second half before Cirencester gave themselves a lifeline with 15 minutes to go.

Dan Madden slipped as a cross came in from the left, giving substitute Ethan Delaney the easy job of scoring from close range.

Sunderland had a scare late on when Daniel Franklin (subbed 15 minutes earlier - what was that nonsense all about?) headed in James Guthrie's free-kick but it was ruled out for pushing as the ball went into the box.

Town finished the game well but Sunderland hung on to book their place in the next round.

Sunderland: Misiewicz, Madden, Cornforth, Brown, Adams, Wilson, L. Noble, Wood, Hourihane (Scott 80), Fletcher (Galer 62), Hubbuck.

Attendance: 253.

There is a lack of courtesy when a club match report fails to list the opposition team. But, there you go, it matters not a jot in the end.

This entry was posted on 04 December 2008 at 00:00. You can leave a response here.

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