SUNDERLAND U18s 4
NEWCASTLE UNITED U18s 2
Premier Academy League
Academy of Light, Sunderland
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Kick off 11am

Craig Hope reports from the Academy of Light ...

NEWCASTLE United Juniors were again left to rue a string of missed chances as Sunderland ran-out 4-2 victors in the Tyne-Wear derby clash at the Academy of Light.

The Geordies saw a host of second-half openings go begging but, having been dumped out of the FA Youth Cup by Midland minnows Shrewsbury Town earlier in the week, Academy manager Joe Joyce would've been cheered by a spirited display in response to that disappointment.

And the visitors should have been in front in the 14th minute when Ryan Donaldson saw his header crash off the underside of the crossbar and onto the line before being scrambled to safety.

But it was the Black Cats who found the opener as centre-forward Martin Waghorn (19) converted from the penalty spot after Callum Morris was harshly adjudged to have handled inside the area.

That lead was doubled within two minutes, Jordan Cook heading home from Gavin Scott's right-wing centre.

The Magpies hit back almost immediately and James Marwood (25) halved the deficit as he reacted quickest to a spill by keeper Martin Hunter.

And the black and whites were unlucky not to be on level terms within moments of Marwood's strike, centre-back Callum Morris heading just inches over from  Mark Doninger's cross.

But Sunderland restored their two-goal advantage just after the half hour mark when referee Stephen Smith again awarded the home side a penalty following Matthew Grieve's sliding challenge on winger Nathan Luscombe - the United defender fortunate to escape with only a yellow card.

Waghorn stepped up to net his second sending Toon stopper Paul Farman the wrong way.

Newcastle refused to give in and the impressive Marwood (43) got his second with man in black Smith pointing to the spot for the third time.

It was the young winger who won the penalty after a trip from Michael Kay before dusting himself off to cooly fire home past Hunter.

And the Magpies should have been level just three minutes into the second period, Jonny Godsmark bursting down the right before squaring for Donaldson but somehow the England youth striker miscued his effort and Sunderland cleared.

Man-of-the-match Marwood was desperately unlucky not to get his hat-trick just after the hour as his curling free-kick struck the woodwork before being scrambled behind for a corner.

From the flag-kick Godsmark saw a close range shot whistle over the crossbar after a game of head tennis inside the area.

Alex Francis was next to go close when his header narrowly cleared the target from a Doninger delivery.

And the black and whites ultimately paid the price for those missed opportunities as Luscombe put the hosts out of sight with an 80th minute strike from close range after Farman had flapped at Henderson's corner.

NUFC: Paul Farman, Alex Patterson, Darren Lough, Matthew Grieve, Callum Morris, James Marwood, Alex Francis, Mark Doninger, Mark Bertram (Frank Wiafe Danquah, 36m), Jonny Godsmark, Ryan Donaldson
Subs not used: Campbell Bell, James Taylor, Dan Neary, Kieran Wrightson