MACC’S youth squad were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup with a 2-1 defeat at Sunderland, but John Askey was rightly proud of his charges.
Last week’s fourth-round tie, at the Stadium of Light, saw the hosts win a tough encounter.
Sunderland led from the 10th minute, Anthony Gardner’s challenge on Nathan Luscombe warranting a penalty that Martin Waghorn converted.
The Black Cats’ second came midway through the half, when Waghorn put Luscombe through to finish past Macc keeper Joe Borbbin.
Macc were forced into defending as a unit and attacking on the break. Kristian Dennis put an opportunity to score wide of Martin Hunter’s post with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Waghorn saw a shot cleared off the line and Jack Coleback drove a shot against the bar as Sunderland dominated.
A more direct approach in the second half paid dividends for the visitors, with Chris Dykes causing problems for the home defenders.
After Dennis was denied by a point-blank stop from Hunter and James Rothel also had a shot blocked, Dennis rose to head home a cross from John Rooney.
It proved to be too little and Sunderland secured the win and it is they who will face the winners of next Tuesday’s Liverpool v Arsenal clash in the fifth round.
Despite the defeat, the proud team boss said: "To reach the fourth round is a fantastic achievement and one that, once the disappointment has gone, we can look back on with pride and take that into the remainder of the season.
"The lads were obviously a bit down after the game but it shows how far we have progressed, that we have gone to a place like Sunderland and left feeling that we should at least have taken the game into extra time."
Askey added that the cup run could serve as a confidence booster to bolster a league challenge, adding: "Their boss was very complimentary and we will take that, and the cup run in general, into our league form. I see no reason why we shouldn’t look to mount a realistic challenge for the title. That is our goal now."
