CITY BOYS’ PERFECT 10 SETS UP TILT AT TITLE
Sunderland Primary Schools Boys have their sights set on the Harrison Cup title after a morale-boosting 10-0 victory over Stockton Boys.
The resounding success means that another victory at Nissan on Saturday, when Washington are the visitors, will guarantee a top-five place in the league, allowing them to compete for the title after the mid-season split.
Against Stockton, the game was very close for the first 15 minutes, with the Teessiders striking the post .
But Sunderland took the lead when Callum Pemberton fired an exquisite 40-yard diagonal ball, which released Lewis Sayers, who advanced to confidently beat the advancing keeper.
The Wearsiders took control from that point and great play down the left saw Shae Bungoni release Sayers, who fired across the sixyard box for the advancing Pemberton to fire home from close range.
The roles were reversed straight after when Pemberton drove to the byline before squaring the ball to Sayers, who again finished confidently.
Sayers completed his hattrick shortly before half-time after great interplay between Hodgson and Clay.
The goals kept flowing in the second half.
Kymani Severin opening his Sunderland Boys account when he drove from midfield, saw the pitch open up in front of him before firing into the corner of the net from the edge of the area.
Oliver Dixon made it 6-0 when he fired a partially cleared corner into the top corner from 25 yards for a fantastic individual strike.
Sayers then added his fourth goal, curling a great strike over the keeper to finish a fine move. He was also heavily involved in Sunderland’s eighth goal, firing over a cross which was helped into his own net by a hapless defender.
After James Sloan went close from 25 yards, defensive partner Daniel Atkinson went one better when he fired an excellent strike from distance into the bottom corner of the net.
Sunderland reached double figures shortly before full-time when the excellent Bungoni fired in a first-time cross which the keeper could only help into the net.
The boys were out of luck when they visited Middlesbrough’s Academy at Rockcliffe in the Premier League District Schools Tournament.
Sunderland began their opening game very well against muchfancied Redcar and Cleveland, with David Hodgson’s header striking the post and a free-kick from the same player causing havoc in the Redcar area.
The Teessiders, though, capitalised on two individual mistakes to win 2-0.
Sunderland responded well to the setback and totally dominated their second game against Middlesbrough.
Sayers released Severin, who smashed the ball against the bar in a one on one with the keeper. An almighty from Bungoni’s corner. scramble in Boro’s goalmouth Apart from a six-minute saw four Sunderland players period in the first game, try to force the ball home, but the boys performed very the final touch could not be well on the day and did not found and Middlesbrough achieve the results that their hung on for a 0-0 draw. performances merited.
The third match, against The city side then suffered East Northumberland, again heartache in the Durham saw the boys produce another County Schools FA sevena-side encouraging performance competition at the to no avail, as a corner evaded Academy of Light. everyone in the Sunderland The day got off to the box before striking the unfortunate worst possible start with a Atkinson and rolling 1-0 defeat in a very tight game beyond keeper Ben against Darlington, despite Mulvaney to condemn being the better side. the boys to From that point, a 1-0 defeat. Sunderland were excellent.
With They beat Durham 2-0 chances of thanks to goals from Clay qualifying and Ramsey, then saw off for the finals Chester-le-Street 4-0, with extinguished, Clay (2), Daniel Atkinson and Sunderland finally Ramsey scoring. found their shooting The boys went into boots in the final group game the final game against against East Riding. Washington level on points
A fine move saw Severin with Darlington, with square the ball to Harry Clay. a slightly superior goal He moved it quickly onto difference and three points Sayers, who slipped it past behind Washington. the advancing keeper for the Another good team’s first goal of the day. performance saw Ramsey
Fletcher Ramsey secured and Dixon seal a 2-0 victory. a 2-0 win with a looping header That moved Sunderland above Washington in the group, but Darlington’s 6-0 victory over Chester-le-Street meant that they won the trophy on goal difference, a bitter pill for the Wearsiders to swallow after a string of good performances.
The New Year started with the boys competing in the Durham County FA five-a-side championship at Stanley’s Louisa Centre.
The boys made the best possible start when a great move was finished off by Sayers’ fierce shot to edge out Washington 1-0.
A tough second game brought a 0-0 draw against North Tyneside, before a 2-0 defeat to Darlington, who capitalised twice on Sunderland losing possession from free-kicks.
A spirited performance against Durham sealed a 2-0 victory, thanks to goals from Clay and Dixon, meaning that victory in the final game would guarantee runners-up spot for the boys.
A disappointing performance in a 1-0 loss to Chester-le-Street, though, saw Sunderland finish fourth.