Louis Bradbury powers home a header but Man Utd U18s misses a penalty in a 2-1 loss

Louie Bradbury headed home a corner but it was not enough as Manchester United U18s went down 2-1 against Sunderland.

The Black Cats took the lead when Caleb Shakespeare seized upon a mistake at the back to net the opener, before Bradbury got United back on level terms in the U18 Premier League.

Sunderland were then awarded a penalty when Nkoto fouled inside the area, and Jay Matadeen stepped up to restore the hosts' advantage.

Noah Ajayi had the chance to earn a point late on when Junior Brown was brought down in the box. Unfortunately his spot-kick was saved by Sunderland goalkeeper Joseph Cowan.

United have struggled with conceding early goals and they did so again as James Barker pressed well to earn an opportunity that was finished by Caleb Shakespeare for 1-0.

Just five minutes later, Jay McEvoy's corner was headed home by Bradbury at the near post.

But on 14 minutes, Darren Fletcher's side fell behind again in the game, as Nkoto fouled Matadeen inside the box.

Referee Samuel Packer awarded a penalty and it was Matadeen who stepped up to make it 2-1, sending goalkeeper Freddie Heath wrong way.

Jariyah Shah was then teed up by Bradbury but his shot easily saved by Joseph Cowan.

Heath then made a big stop to deny Shakespeare another goal soon after, before Bradbury's speculative effort from the halfway line rounded off the first-half action.

Heath made a solid stop to deny Matadeen as Sunderland looked to add a third to their tally after the break.

Shah was fouled by Kay Munyakazi and that enabled him a take free-kick in a dangerous area soon after. His set-piece found Rafe McCormack, who headed back goalwards but that was easily gathered in the end by Cowan.

The Black Cats then cleared off the line as Ajayi teed up Shah, who looks to bend one into the far corner, which was eventually cleared by Arron Bowman at the last second.

Bowman then hit one post and Matadeen hit the other in a succession of attempts for the hosts, as United some how survived a scare at the back.

But there was to be more late drama in the north east, as Brown was hacked down in the area by goalkeeper Cowan.

Ajayi stepped up in injury time to level, but his effort from 12 yards was saved and our last chance at a leveller went amiss.

The result leaves United second in the table six points off leaders Manchester City and then face Liverpool next on Wednesday.