Sunderland reserves ran out worthy 2-1 victors beating a talented, if young, Liverpool reserve side at Eppleton’s ground in Hetton - the birthplace of the great Bob Paisley.

The Lads lined up with an experienced line up. McArdle and Hartley were paired at centre back with , Kav, the improving Meyler and captain Colback in the middle and Chopra effectively up front on his own with Stokes and Hendo supporting from wide left and right respectively. Colback, at least early in the game, seemed to be pushing on more and earlier than usual to support the at times lonely Chops – although I’m not sure it suited his style of play as much as his Gerrardesque burst from deep or his David Platt timed arrivals.

The first real chance took ten minutes to come with Chopra dragging the ball back beautifully with the tip of his toe and setting it up nicely for Jordan to strike from just inside the box but the keeper made an excellent save down to his right, pushing it away for a corner. From the resultant kick, the keeper, Bouzaniz, did well again making a good block from a tight angle again from Rocky.

Chops floated a lovely ball out to Stokes after excellent interplay with the Meyler and Stokes did what Stokes does best – beat a man as if he wasn’t there and then promptly passed to absolutely no-one. Enigma.

Kav, who had his brightest game for a long time then flashed shot just over from 20 yards shortly before Hartley superbly robbed Spearing deep inside the box as Liverpool looked likely to score on one of their first few chances.

Chops had the ball in the net just before the mid point of the first half but it turned out to be a rocky horror show as he’d just strayed offside after excellent work by Kav and cap’in Jack.

Liverpool began to exert more pressure and after a good interception found Lids out of position they broke down the right and put in a great ball deep in the box. Colgan came out and punched dramatically - although not the ball. In fact he was somewhat nearer Spearing’s head than the ball and he did it with so much gusto that most of us were readying ourselves to catch the decapitated head as far away as the main stand – thankfully he didn’t make contact and I’d like to think it was a well judged ‘leave’ for a goal kick but I aint convinced.

The majority of the rest of the first period was a montage of clumsy challenges by Kay (admittedly not Guthrie standard), Ngog threatening the safety of next doors trees and shrubbery and daft decisions by the ref. However, just on the stoke of half time a poorly executed challenge by Meyler right on the ‘D’ presented the visitors with one of their few clear-cut chances of the evening thus far. The highly rated Pacecho stepped up and curled a beautiful effort Earnshaw style toward the top right corner and just when your thinking ‘well that’s in’, out of nowhere comes Colgan and just pushes it round the apex of bar and post. Excellent save.

H/T 0 - 0

The second half stated much as the first half had been with the vast majority of play confined to the middle third of the park and with clear-cut chances at a premium.

Ngog began to exert more influence up front for Pool and he flashed a Van Basten from a ridiculously tight angle on the edge of the box just past Colgan’s woodwork.

Just on the hour mark Sunderland finally got some movement from midfield going and Kav burst through and hit the left hand post but Chops followed up feigned to strike the ball first time, to cleverly give himself a bit space and time and then side stepped the defenders and lashed the ball home from ten yards. He hit it that hard that I’m not sure the keeper could have stopped it anyway.

Soon after, a Liverpool sub came on and it was only notable in so much as, he Jordy Brouwer, sounds like he should have a job making Brown Ale – although we all know that if any thick Geordie had a job it would save them from embarrassing themselves on national tv, in the middle of the day when the latest manager leaves via Sid James’s revolving door.

Hartley flashed a header over from a corner and then Chops smashed a shot against the same post that Kav had hit in the build up to the goal before El Zhar, which I thought was just outside of Cairo – Ricky Villa’d it to make it 1 – 1. Well when I say Villa’d it, there actually wasn’t a single challenge on him he just jinked inside the box in a similar weaving fashion.

Pool then threatened to take all three points with Ngog again causing our young centre backs problems but with seven minutes to go, enter young Luscombe - well he came on as a sub I mean – it’s not an instruction.

Sunderland broke well and Chops dinked in a good ball from the right for young Nath to head home from an acute angle. 2 –1. Liverpool couldn’t’ recover and Luscombe’s energy down the left threatened to create more chances.

So a good start to the season with consecutive 2 – 1 wins. In our first ressie match we beat Tootanic 2 – 1 to send the cartoon army sliding towards the trap door of Toon 101, I’m guessing this week’s win won’t result in mass resignations and dummy spitting though – I guess that’s the difference between clubs who win trophies and those that never will.

Full Time: Sunderland Reserves 2 – 1 Liverpool Reserves

Sunderland: Colgan, Kay, McArdle, Hartley, Liddle, Henderson (Luscombe), Kavanagh, Colback, Stokes (Dowson), Chopra

Unused subs: Misiewicz, Chandler, Cook, Prica

Man of the Match: Tricky one this week but Chops made the difference playing the thankless ‘man up front on his own’ role.

Attendance: 1203

Dov