Sunderland U-18s 4, West Brom U-18s 0

Apr 14 2008 The Journal

SUNDERLAND clinched their FA Premier Academy League group title after beating West Brom at home on Saturday.

They are in the group play-offs for the second season running as second-placed Nottingham Forest lost at home to Manchester City.

Sunderland were two up in the first 10 minutes. The first came when full-back Michael Liddle’s low centre found Nathan Luscombe who fired home.

Then Jordan Henderson played in Martyn Waghorn and the striker drew the keeper and side-footed home. After a quarter of an hour, they made it three when Conor Hourihane’s corner was headed in by Gavin Donoghue. Seven minutes later captain Jack Colback drove home.

The win enabled the Cats to claim a deserved title and an away semi-final play-off game against FA Youth Cup conquerors Manchester City.

SUNDERLAND UNDER-18s (4-1-4-1): Staples; Kay, Donoghue, Brown, Liddle, Noble (Cook 70), Henderson, Colback, Hourihane (Reed 70), Luscombe, Waghorn (Scott 75). Subs (not used): McArdle, Hunter.