Our Under-21s kicked off the new Premier League 2 season with victory in an eight-goal thriller at Sunderland on Monday night.
Two goals from Oliver Irow and a further strike from Dante Cassanova had us 3-0 up inside 25 minutes as we capitalised on the hosts’ early frailties at the back to surge into an advantageous position, but Sunderland didn’t lay down and kept coming back at us, Trey Ogunsuyi bagging a hat-trick as our lead was reduced to 3-1 and then 4-3 after Luca Williams-Barnett’s goal early in the second period had extended our side of the scoreline.
In truth, both sides could have scored more in a rip-roaring contest but while the hosts found themselves denied by our defence and the offside flag on numerous occasions, we maintained our composure and finally killed the game off through substitute Rio Kyerematen’s fine strike into the bottom corner with five minutes of normal time remaining.
Goalkeeper Luca Gunter and defender Pele Arganese-McDermott made key interventions in the closing stages to prevent the Black Cats from mounting a late rally, while the hosts finished with 10 men following a second yellow card shown to Jaydon Jones deep into stoppage time. The final whistle moments later brought the curtain down on an entertaining, deserved 5-3 win.
More to follow.