Sunderland Reserves 0 Everton Reserves 0
Hetton Centre, Hetton
Attendance: 803
Wednesday March 19, 2008

Sunderland Reserves were held to a goalless draw at home to a ten man Everton side in what was a dour game of few chances.

There was some sibling rivalry in this game, with Sunderland's Billy Dennehy facing brother Darren on the wing, but that was the sum total of the game's excitement, even when Everton's Dennehy saw red with 20 minutes remaining.

Everton relied on simple attacks forward that were almost embarrassingly easy for Danny Higginbotham and Jean-Yves M'voto to mop up at the back, while the Lads were denied by the Toffees' keeper Jamie Jones any time they did go forward.

Jones denied Billy Dennehy from a right footed effort midway through the first half when Anthony Stokes' flick-on found the winger, whose days at the club are numbered as he's being released in the summer. Robbie Weir then sent an effort off target from outside the box for the Lads, as our next best chance came from a Stephen Wright cross, which was easily hacked away.

After Everton's Dennehy was sent off - for hauling down substitute Jordan Cook just outside the box following a 25 yard run on goal - the Lads took a free kick, only for Stokes to send the shot straight at the keeper.

Nathan Luscombe put a shot over the bar in the dying moments, but the old adage came true - you don't shoot, you can't score!

Sunderland Reserves: Carson, Wright, M'voto, Higginbotham, Harte (sub 61, Luscombe), Henderson (sub 68, Cook), Weir, Chandler, Miller, Dennehy, Stokes. Subs: Staples, Pelter, Donoghue.

Everton Reserves: Jones, Densmore, Molyneux, Irving, Dennehy (OFF 70), Harpur, Morrison (sub 77, Akpan), Rodwell, Agard, Codling, Connor (sub 68, O'Kane). Subs: McCarten, Sinnott, McEntegart.