Team Sunderland beat Northumbria Police on penalties to win the Cameron Scarratt Trophy

With the game ending 2-2 in normal time, Sunderland overcame Northumbria Police 4-2 on penalties to win a fifth consecutive Cameron Scarratt Trophy in the sixth edition of the charity match. 

The University came from behind twice in the first half; strikes from Sam Donnalley and Zain Saeed cancelling out two headed goals from the Police.  

There was nothing to separate the sides in the second period, leaving the charity game to be decided on penalties for the first time in Cameron Scarratt Trophy history.  

Goalkeeper Yazan Top was Sunderland’s hero, saving two out of four efforts from the spot. Adam Lennox then stepped up and found the top left corner to win the trophy for University. 

It did not take long for the match to be brought to life, with Northumbria scoring on three minutes. A corner found Team Northumbria’s central defender, who leapt well and headed home to give an early lead to the Police.  

Sunderland quickly responded with an equaliser In the seventh minute after Donnalley latched onto an audacious through ball from Saeed and tucking his finish into the bottom left corner. 

Despite Team Sunderland levelling the match, the side failed to assume some control over the tie, allowing Northumbria to capitalise and regain the lead on 18 minutes. In similar fashion to the opener, a corner whipped in was met with a thumping header past Top.  

On the stroke of half time Sunderland threatened when Thomas Lowe’s header, inside the six yard box, was palmed towards Donnalley on the right whose cut back found Saeed who fired into an empty net. 

An evenly matched second period was nearly shifted in the University’s favour on 68 minutes – with Lennox releasing Wisdom Owuna in on goal – however, the midfielder failed to find the target with his effort, rattling the crossbar from close range. 

Shortly after, the Police responded with a chance of their own –  a curling shot from distance bounced off the crossbar, with Top still planted in the centre of his goal. 

In the closing stages, Sunderland piled on the pressure for a winner, forcing Northumbria  to frantically clear two chances in quick succession away from their own six yard box.

With a minute of normal time left, Kelvin Ayodeji Adewale went one-one-one, but did not get any purchase on his final effort – allowing the Northumbria goalkeeper to make himself big and smother the ball.  

On 90 minutes, Sunderland threatened once more, causing a late scare for the Police. A Lennox freekick from near the half way line forced Northumbria’s goalkeeper to tip onto the crossbar, and the Police held out for penalties. 

The University maintained composure in the shootout, maintaining a perfect record with Saeed, Ben Dunstan, and Lowe converting.

Top done his job superbly, saving two penalties with two stellar stops to place Sunderland in pole position to win the Cameron Scarratt Trophy.  

With the university’s fourth effort from the spot, Lennox finished with conviction, firing into the top left corner to ensure the trophy remained in Sunderland.