Sunderland avoid the giant-killing headlines

Sunderland - 3 Northwich Victoria - 0: Considering that Northwich Victoria are sponsored by a paper-shredding business and Sunderland are well accustomed to being ripped apart here, the ingredients were present for an upset. Although the travelling supporters attempted to will it by repeated choruses of "Are you Winsford in disguise?" - a reference to their local rivals - it never came. Instead Mick McCarthy's Premiership strugglers mustered sufficient class to record an all-too-rare victory on a ground where they are still to win a league match this season.

Even so Kelvin Davis, McCarthy's much maligned goalkeeper, was required to make three important saves from Jonny Allan, Stuart Elliott and Carlos Roca as Steve Burr's Conference North team creditably refused to fold and enjoyed odd periods of protracted pressure.

"It's a victory," sighed a relieved McCarthy. "Kelvin Davis made three very good saves but we also missed several opportunities. I thought Northwich were great, though; they were lively and caused us problems and their supporters were fantastic. The game was played in the right spirit and although there were a couple of tough challenges there was no nastiness."

Burr, whose players are all part-timers earning a maximum of £300 a week from football, concurred. "I couldn't have asked for any more. After getting off to the worst possible start we could have quite easily caved in but we didn't and had some good little spells. Kris Rogers had to make some great saves but we had a few chances too."

Northwich's failure to clear Liam Lawrence's early corner permitted Neill Collins, a centre half newly returned from a loan stint at Hartlepool, to half-volley Sunderland's opener after Tommy Miller's shot was blocked.

However, it was anything but a cue for Northwich to raise a white flag. Paul Brayson has scored 27 times this season and, when his free-kick was met by Danny Mayman's backheel, Davis looked relieved to divert it for a corner.

Yet such commendable attacking zeal left them vulnerable to counter-attacks and so it very nearly proved when Jon Stead saw a shot strike a post. At least Stead soon had the consolation of creating the second goal, his right-wing cross being met by the on-rushing Dean Whitehead, whose unerring low shot defeated Rogers, who had earlier made some important saves.

Anthony le Tallec supplied the killer blow when stabbing home from close range after Rogers could only parry Lawrence's strike. It signalled the end of a spirited but commendably clean contest featuring only one booking and Burr was rightly delighted with his men. "My lads have enjoyed it and done themselves proud. This was our Cup final and I said, 'Make sure you make the most of it; these days don't come round very often'," he revealed.

"Sunderland play Chelsea next week but we've got Woking."

Guardian Service