Goals from Harry Williams, Tom Atkinson, Josh Marshall and Josh Larkin capped off an impressive away victory for the Y&E away at Sunderland West End.

After the postponement of our home game against Esh Winning, a trip up the A19 was next on the agenda for the Y&E to the Ford Hub in Sunderland to face Sunderland West End. With the Ford Hub pitch being 4G there were no concerns for a waterlogged pitch.

As we left Teesside the weather was chilly but relatively dry but heading up the A19 it started to get a bit foggy and wet. By the time this correspondent had taken a couple of wrong turns (it’s the A183 turn off not the A690) and was rescued by his son’s guidance from Apple Maps, we arrived at the Hub to swirling wind and rain. Tropical Wearside. The players & coaching staff were drenched before the game started. Thankfully for the Y&E support (which made up most of the crowd of 40 in attendance) the wind was on our backs, which made it bearable.

We lined up with a strong squad. Callum in goal, Joe Dalton right back, Sam Conway left back with Ethan Jones, Dan Jones and Cam Wild in central defence. HST, Marshy, Harry Williams and Josh Larkin across midfield with Tom up front. On the bench, Pete Bulmer, Foz Garton, Jack Dalton, Leo Cheesebrough and Jack Proctor. Plenty of experience sat on the bench.

With the West End Youth serenading the away fans, the game got underway. We got off to a good start, plenty of energy and intensity, winning the ball in midfield. Marshy was at the heart of this and managed to win a tackle he had no right to win, before sliding a ball in the 6 yard box corridor of uncertainty but nobody on Han to finish it off. We took the lead on 21mins, Harry Williams heading home a corner. Six minutes later we doubled our lead, a set piece Cam heads it and it falls to Tom who hits a sublime volley from the edge of the box to make it 2-0. He likes scoring at the Ford Hub. We were playing really well and nearly had a third a couple of minutes later, Joe Dalton through on goal and his effort was tipped wide.

We did make it three on 33 minutes. Marshy intercepting a stray pass from the West End defence before rifling home a shot from distance. 3-0 up in the first half. Our tails were up and we were playing well. We were winning 50/50 balls, the defence was solid and the work rate on both flanks and up front was quality. As the ref blew up for half time and we headed to the club house to warm up and try and dry out, the Y&E support were in a good mood.

As the lads headed back out for the second half, there was plenty of shivering and teeth chattering from them as they made twhre way back outside. Back underway and we were back on the attack early on. Sam Conway breaking down the left, his cross / shot saved for a corner. From the resulting set piece a proper goal mouth scramble and a Dalts over head kick off the bar. Ball cleared. We added our fourth of the game on 57 mins. Marshy winning the ball on the right hand side, just in front of where we were stood. He had legitimately no right whatsoever to win that ball, but somehow he did. He drove down the wing, skinned one of their defenders, before an inch perfect cross to Josh Larkin who finished superbly. 4-0 up with just under an hour gone.

The game was well and truly over by then, but as we know comebacks can happen at the Ford Hub! West End kept going and had more of the ball. They had one cleared off the line and Callum had to make some saves, but we saw the game out. All of the subs came on and had a decent run out as the game finished up 4-0 to the Y&E.

Another one to flag up as well, not a single booking dished out in that game. Not often you see that in the Northern League!

It wasn’t West End’s night but they kept on going and tested Callum more than he had been tested in our previous games in 2026. Good luck to them for the remainder of the season.

A really good display from the Y&E. Yes it was on Astro but the conditions weren’t the best for football, but we played really well and took our early chances to give us a good cushion. There was plenty of good displays across the pitch and Dalts and Larkin shared the man of the match beers. You could have made an argument for several of the starting line up. A nice boost for goal difference and well and another clean sheet to boot.

In the words of Peter Kay it was that fine rain that soaks you through. Plenty of it as well! Credit as well to the Y&E support who made it to the game. A 4-0 away win made it all worthwhile. On to the next one! #utyae