Our Under 23s are now up to second in the Wearside League second division table after a good 4-2 away win at Crook on Saturday.

Goals from Alfie Fawcett, Matthiew Kirokiro (2) , Steve Dawson gave them victory and put them in the right frame of mind for another tough week, which ends with an away game at Middlestone Moor on Saturday.

Manager Grant Cuthbertson said; “It was a hard-fought win against a very energetic and hard-working team. We had to work hard to grind out the win and remain very resilient.” 

Crook came out the starting blocks sharp, a side full of youthful energy and it showed as they pressed hard from the outset. Some sticky moments in midfield and lost possession led to some chaos in the box and within two minutes Crook were 1-0 up.  

We kept pushing on the door and had good moments playing through Helliwell in the pivot, a few good shots missed that would have been buried on a different day. It was Alfie Fawcett breaking through into the box and wiped out that would pose the first goal for us, a calmly taken penalty and it was 1-1. 60 second later Kiro contributed with his near guaranteed goal a game with a fantastic ball through from Helliwell and a tidy finish. 2-1.

 A corner from Crook parried out by Mason fell to a Crook attacker to tuck home to level the scores, but fantastic testament to the boys coming with an instant response from kick off and Maddo drove all the way through the pitch, found a shot that bounced off the keeper and Ste Dawson followed in smartly to get the boys 3-2 for halftime. Messy 45, but the lead was ours.

 The second half wasn’t much improved, with respect to Crook they absolutely pressed till the end and were constantly fighting for their equaliser but it wasn’t to come. It was Kiro at the double after and end-to-end half to tuck home Darlo’s 4th, right on the 90.

Starting Line-Up:

Liam Mason, Will Maddison, Thomas Southwood, Owen Smith, Dylan Helliwell, Oliver Walters, Toby Sparrow, Ethan Cuthbertson, Alfie Fawcett, Ste Dawson, Matthiew Kiro

Subs: Zack Pearn, Harry Butters, Alfie Robinson