Development Squad Downed 3-0 By York City

Kevin Ball's young Development side lost for the second game in a row after three early goals saw them defeated by York City at Bootham Crescent last night.

A young, but still slightly more experienced side than was fielded in the last few game, including Louis Laing, Blair Adams and Ryan Noble, couldn't overcome a very strong York City side who are currently preparing for life back in League Two next season.

The home side dominated from the off and had the ball in the net after John Egan handled on the edge of the area, allowing Michael Coulson to curl low and around the wall, beyond a helpless Ben Wilson.

With only 16-minutes on the click, York's Ashley Chambers reacting first after Wilson couldn't keep a hold of Daniel Parslow's low effort.

York continued to press and probe, with Parslow and Patrick McLaughlin both going close before the game was put seemingly beyond reach on 25-minutes as Coulson grabbed his second and his side's third goal of the game.

Ashley Chambers and Jamal Fyfield teamed up well, allowing the former to put a wonderful ball across the box where Coulson lurked at the far post to tuck it home for 3-0.

Sunderland's best chance of the opening half an hour fell to Ryan Noble. A nice looking cross from Adams was met by Noble, who really ought to have hit the target as opposed to screwing the ball wide.

It was damage limitation from here on out as Sunderland rarely threatened former 'keeper Michael Ingham at the opposite end. Jason Walker went close to adding a fourth when his 30-yard freekick clipped the bottom of the post. Meanwhile with 15-minutes left to play Coulson was denied a hattrick by the crossbar as the home side outclassed our young players all night.

Barring that early effort from Noble, the next best we could serve up was when Billy Knott elected to shoot rather than tee up a teammate, sending his powerful effort from the edge of the area well wide.

A disappointment for the Development Side, but it was very much a case of men against boys as a team dominated by teenagers with barely a handful of first team appearances between them took on a team primed for League Two action in the coming weeks. Something Kevin Ball echoed in his comments to the official site post-match;

I wanted the players to experience that type of football against league opposition, and ultimately if they want to play in our first team then they have to understand what I call the bread and butter side of things, where people really are playing for their living.

I think the game brought home a few home truths for some of the boys and they have a lot of work to do.

I want to see those who are prepared to challenge themselves and say 'I'll have a go'. They might still lose, but I want them to get that experience.

Kevin Ball's side will no doubt lineup a few more friendlies prior to the season starting on August 20th against Southampton.