Report

Consett continued their countdown to the FA Vase final at Wembley by taking on a Sunderland XI in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Academy of Light.

Terry Mitchell’s side are looking sharper with every game, but lost 4-3 in an action-packed match against a young Black Cats side, despite two goals from Matty Cornish, pictured top.

However, they fell behind early on when a Sunderland striker reacted quickest to the loose ball after a good save by Consett keeper Kyle Hayes.

The Steelmen levelled midway through the half when a pass from Calvin Smith sent Matty Cornish away down the right. he cut inside the left-back and drilled a left-footed screamer in off the post.

Just before half-time Consett went ahead when Dan Marriott ran between the Sunderland centre-backs, and the keeper cleaned him out as he tried to reach the ball.

Up stepped Cornish, who had scored from the spot at North Shields on Saturday, and he sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-1.

Consett rang the changes at half-time, bringing on five substitutes, and before they could settle it was 2-2, as a Sunderland striker again reacted quickest from a Hayes save.

Half-time: Sunderland U23s 2 Consett 2

Dale Pearson replaced Cornish, and the striker was involved in the goal which restored Consett’s lead. He played a defence-splitting pass to Nick Allen, who squared it for Carl Lawson to score with a shot which nutmegged a defender and the keeper.

Straight from the kick-off Sunderland levelled again, scoring with an excellent strike into the top corner from 25 yards.

A great ball in by Ali Alshabeeb saw Ross Wilkinson power a header just over the bar as the game went from end to end.

But it was Sunderland who grabbed a fortunate winner when a shot took a huge deflection and looped over the keeper to make the final score 4-3.

SUNDERLAND XI: Not available.

CONSETT: Not available.