Abdoullah Ba scores as Sunderland U21s win on penalties vs Halifax Town in National League Cup
Sunderland U21s’ clash against Halifax Town was decided by a penalty shoot out in the National League Cup
Sunderland U21s returned to action on Tuesday night as they travelled to Halifax Town in the National League Cup, knowing that only a win would send the young Black Cats through to the next round from the group stages.
Graeme Murty handed starts to fringe first team players Abdoullah Ba, Joe Anderson and Jay Matete, while Harrison Jones also came into the XI, and Adam Richardson was selected in goal. Jenson Jones, Ben Kindon, Anderson and Archie Lightfoot formed the back line, with Matete, Ben Middlemas and Harrison Jones operating in midfield.
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Jake Waters led the line, supported by Ba and Ethan Moore out wide. Anderson, Ba and Matete have all been told they can leave Sunderland this winter, while Harrison Jones is viewed as a potential loan departure ahead of the January window. Murty’s bench included in-form striker Finn Geragusian and goalkeeper Ben Metcalf, alongside outfield options Finlay Holcroft, Rhys Walsh, Jaydon Jones and Liam Hunt as Sunderland chased the win needed to progress against National League opposition.
Sunderland start well, but Halifax take the lead
Ba looked bright down the left in the early stages, linking neatly with Lightfoot as Sunderland made the more composed start against Halifax Town. Despite that early control, it was the hosts who registered the first effort after three minutes, a long ball from the goalkeeper creating space for a strike at goal. Sunderland responded well and almost broke the deadlock when a Harrison Jones corner found Moore six minutes in, but his effort drifted wide. Moments later, Middlemas saw a superb volley from outside the box blocked as the Black Cats pushed through a flurry of corners in search of an opener.
Sunderland looked to build through technical play on the floor, while Halifax adopted a more direct approach, hitting their front man early as the opening quarter of an hour passed with the game still level. But with 17 minutes gone, the hosts sparked into life. A blistering move down Sunderland’s left ended with Owen Bray finding Sean Tarima, whose low finish gave Town the lead. Sunderland striker Waters broke onto a loose path not long after the restart, but fired wide.
Halifax continued to put Sunderland’s youngsters under sustained pressure as the first half wore on, with Matete, Harrison Jones and Middlemas all pressed aggressively by the home side. Moore produced a couple of bright moments down the right but was unable to carve out a clear opening. Matete then surrendered possession on several occasions, one of which almost proved costly from a Sunderland perspective. Fellow first team fringe player Anderson was also guilty of sloppy play before the break, nearly gifting Halifax another opportunity with an aimless pass out from the back, and the half closed with the hosts one goal to the good.
Sunderland emerge unchanged for second half
There were no changes at half-time for Sunderland ads Murty’s men looked to start on the front foot and level the scores during the second stranza, though Halifax Town did bring on fresh legs. But it was the home side who started well, forcing a save from Richardson early on. Sunderland burst into life when Moore threaded through Waters but the striker took a touch too many and the chance was snuffed out.
Moore and Waters remained Sunderland’s brightest sparks as the hour mark approached, but sloppy midfield play from Matete, Harrison Jones and Middlemas prevented the Black Cats from finding any real rhythm. Halifax continued to manage the game well, taking the sting out of proceedings whenever pressure threatened to build. Middlemas did force a strong save from the home goalkeeper with a long range effort on 59 minutes, leading to a series of corners that came to nothing. Murty then made changes, with Moore replaced by Walsh and Holcroft coming on for Anderson. Seconds later Sunderland were level, Ba reacting sharply to lash home from close range.
Richardson then produced a superb save to keep the scores level. With eight minutes left, substitute Geragusian, on for Waters, had a golden chance but saw his effort blocked. It should have been 2-1 Sunderland. A mazy Middlemas run followed as Sunderland looked for a winner but he was crowded out by Halifax Town’s defence. Halifax thought they’d won it three minutes from time but their goal was ruled out for offside.
Game ends level with penalty shoot out deciding extra point
Despite a few half chances late on, the game finished level, meaning a penalty shootout was needed to decide who took the extra point in Group D. Harrison Jones stepped up first for Sunderland and calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. Richardson guessed correctly for Halifax’s opening kick but could not keep it out, making it 1-1.
Middlemas then fired past the home keeper to restore Sunderland’s lead, only for Halifax to respond once more. Geragisuan made it 3-2 shortly afterwards. Halifax converted their third penalty to keep the pressure on after six kicks. Jenson Jones then smashed his effort high and wide, giving Halifax the advantage at 4-3. But the hosts put their fourth penalty wide of Richardson’s right post, swinging the shootout back in Sunderland’s favour. The Black Cats sealed it 5-3 when Lightfoot stepped up and buried the winning kick. The draw and penalty win handed Sunderland two points in Group D leaving qualification to the next round a possibility but unlikely given games in hand from rival clubs around them.