Andy’s Player Ratings: Halifax 1 (3)-1 (4) Sunderland U21s – Black Cats Secure Extra Point With Shootout Win

Adam Richardson: 7/10

Made a fantastic fingertip save when it looked like Halifax were going to score a second but didn’t need to make too many other ones, dealt with balls around the box well and was fine with his feet.

Jenson Jones: 7/10

A quiet first half but came to life after the break, made one meaty challenge that riled up his opposite number and then played a lovely raking ball to Ba for the goal.

Ben Kindon: 6/10

Good distribution and tidy at the back, always quick to close the opposition down when they were around our box.

Joe Anderson: 6/10

His defending was fine, with a few well timed challenges but his passing was a bit wayward, with one in particular being a lazy first time effort that started a counter attack for the opposition.

Archie Lightfoot: 6/10

Got up and down the line all evening, supported Ba well even if the ball to his overlapping runs was not always what it needed to be. Ended up scoring the winning penalty in the penalty shoot-out.

Jay Matete: 6/10

Was OK in the first half but much better after the break when he and the team played further up the pitch. Shot just over the bar with time ticking down.

Ben Middlemas (C): 7/10

Ran the show for Sunderland from midfield, plenty of driving runs and first time balls to teammates to get the ball forward quickly. Some of his passing was a bit off tonight but another good game.

Abdoullah Ba: 6/10

A typically erratic night for Ba, looked extremely rusty in the first half. He failed to track his runner who then scored the opener, got in a good position down the left but shot wildly wide and made good decisions to play reverse balls for Lightfoot but kept putting a bit too much on the passes. Did score a lovely goal though, making a lovely run into space down the left, then controlling Jenson Jones’ ball on the byline, cutting inside and scoring. Had some good link up play around the box after the break too.

Harrison Jones: 7/10

Played well in his familiar number 10 position, lots of running on and off the ball and with better movement by his teammates could have had an assist or two.

Ethan Moore: 6/10

Always showing himself as an option down the right wing, where he’d look to get to the byline and put a cross in.

Jake Waters: 6/10

Had a good driving run in the first half, which resulted in his shot being fired just wide but a relatively quiet game from him.

Substitutes

Rhys Walsh: 6/10

Gave the team a bit of impetus on the right wing when he replaced Moore in the second half.

Finlay Holcroft: 6/10

Replaced Anderson in the second half and slotted in well at centre back.

Finn Geragusian: 6/10

Caused the home defence some problems when he came on, unlucky not to score when he had one shot deflected out and then could have done better with the timing of his run when he and Jones were breaking at pace, with Jones having to turn inside due to Geragusian drifting offside.

Man of the Match: Jenson Jones

Some good displays tonight against the Halifax first team but my man of the match is Jenson Jones. Got an assist with a great ball over the top to Ba, when he could have played a safer option, and defended well though out. His strong challenge on a Halifax player also gave the team a bit of a boost.