After suffering a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Whitby Town in his first game in charge during the week, Kevin Ball got his first win as boss of the Development Team as they crushed local non-league outfit Newton Aycliffe 6-1 at Moore Lane Park.
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In what was a combative first half, the deadlock was broken from the penalty spot by first year professional Jordan Laidler. Aycliffe midfielder Sean Tarling tripped James Armstrong, son of Gordon, inside the area - allowing Laidler to score his first goal of the preseason.
The lead lasted right the way through to the verge of half time when defender Fred Woodhouse stabbed the ball past Joel Dixon as the youngsters failed to clear a corner.
At the break, Aycliffe introduced a new signing of some pedigree. Paul Robinson famously started for Newcastle against Sunderland as Alan Shearer and Duncan Ferguson were left on the bench one rain-soaked night. Robinson nearly had the ball in the net immediately but was well foiled by Dixon.
The miss was made to look even worse as immediately following this Sunderland broke forward and Laidler grabbed his and his teams second goal of the game.
Liam Agnew made it 3-1 from close range following Nathan Thomas' knock down, putting the game virtually beyond reach for Aycliffe.
However, Sunderland were not done and three goals in little over five minutes made the result a comprehensive one for the new manager.
Mikael Mandron, on as substitute for George Honeyman only ten minutes earlier, teed up fellow sub Carl Lawson to make it 4-1 on 77 minutes. This was swiftly followed by Mandron grabbing a goal for himself as the lanky Frenchman latched on to Adam Mitchell's through ball to finish with ease beyond opposing keeper Scott Pocklington.
Pocklington was picking the ball out of his net for a sixth time on 80 minutes when Mitchell raced to the byline, and his cross was met by sub Anthony Campbell who's own goal was the icing on the cake as the non-leaguers were thoroughly outclassed for the majority of the second half.
Next up for them is a trip to Spennymoor United on July 25th.