Sunderland West End 4 Darlington Reserves 2

The reserves left Sunderland West End feeling very frustrated last night after they let a two goal lead slip and lost 4-2 in their Wearside League match.

Quakers were 2-0 up inside the first 23 minutes with a Nathan Stephenson penalty and a Lewis Walton goal, but Sunderland hit back to level before half time.

The hosts went in from the spot from the spot seven minutes after half time, and scored a fourth near the end.

Joint manager Mark Fanning said; “We started the game well enough and they couldn’t cope with us. Our passing was sharp and caused them problems, but then they changed their tactics and we couldn’t contend with them. We didn’t win enough balls in midfield, and our defence struggled in some ways.”

Midfielder Tom Portas played 70 minutes of the game before being taken off as a precaution after taking a slight knock, and Scott Fenwick played for an hour.

The reserves next game is at Eastbourne on Saturday against Harton and Westoe, kick off 2pm.