Every step of Sunderland youngster Bali Mumba's stunning showing for South Shields

Two goals in two games, an advanced role and plenty of first-team experience - it's fair to say Bali Mumba's loan to hometown club South Shields is already paying dividends for the Sunderland youngster.
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And while the first-team and youth teams at the Stadium of Light saw their games fall victim to the coronavirus Football League blanket call-off, the Northern Premier League was not subject to such a ban.Another 90 minutes under his belt against FC United of Manchester, this time in front of more than 3,000 people at Mariners Park - how did 18-year-old Mumba perform?Here we take a look at the youngster's performance in-depth, minute-by-minute…

BALI MUMBA WATCH

14:00: Known primarily as a right-back option in the Sunderland squad, Mumba's athleticism, pace and ability to run in behind has seen him shift to a much more advanced role at Shields. Named as No.11 on the teamsheet, the Black Cats kid looks to be operating as a left-winger.

Bali MumbaBali Mumba
Bali Mumba
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15:01: As Shields get the game started, Mumba is, as expected, working off the left. He switches early on with Josh Gillies to play off the right. This is a constant theme as the two pacey wideman switch at will throughout the 90 minutes.

15:04: Phil Turnbull's ball out to Mumba looks to have the youngster cornered but swift thinking, and a one-touch pass sets left-back Blair Adams free down the left. Very clever from the Sunderland loan man.

15:30: Back out on the left for much of the opening half an hour, Mumba now pops up on the right. Running with the ball at pace he attempts to square up an FC United defender. Knocking the ball one way and running the other, Mumba can't quite get the better of his marker and is thwarted.

15:32: With FC United looking to play out from the back, the Mariners are right in their faces, no one more so than Mumba. The youngster tenaciously nips in win the ball on the right but his pass to Craig Baxter is delayed and when set free the right-back is offside. Such is Mumba's want to impress he follows up the return pass from Baxter to have a pop at goal. It is wild swing, but the intent and enthusiasm must he admired.

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15:34: Right in the action now, Mumba is getting plenty of joy on the right flank. An outstanding change of pace sees him dance past a defender and dig a cross out. Nothing comes of it, but that's dynamic stuff from the SAFC man.

15:37: Back out on the left now, Mumba cuts in on to his favoured right foot and unleashes a powerful effort at goal, but it hits a wall of FC United defenders.

15:39: A cross from the right looks inch perfect for Mumba but for a last-ditch flicked header by the defender. Mumba was coming on to that one at pace and looked certain to score from six yards, but for the intervention. Close. It was this kind of run which was to pay dividends for the player at the death.

15:40 Mumba is down, he looks to have hurt his shoulder in that attempt to score. A little attention and he seems OK to continue.

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15:45: Tracking back into his defensive third Mumba picks up the ball only to be upended by FC United captain Mike Potts. Fans are unhappy with the challenge, the referee does not deem it serious enough for red. Yellow. Again, after some time on the deck, Mumba is OK to continue.

15:46: Half-time. And it's fair to say Mumba has been all over the shop for Shields - and I mean that in a good way. He's switched from right to left at ease with his pace and movement causing all kind of problems for the visitors, who are lucky to be going in just the three goals down.

16:06: Shields dominated the opening 45, but FC United, second in the table, were never going to be as bad after the break. A treble substitution has seen them step it up a notch. And pressure on the left sees Mumba give the ball away. He has to be a little more robust in the challenge on this occasion.

16:26: Mumba's levels appear to have dropped, but that seems to be the case for the whole Shields side. An injury to skipper Jon Shaw has taken the wind out of the Mariners' sails and they're under the cosh. The youngster looks a very tired player, predominantly out on the left in this half.

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16:35: Mumba gets his first opportunity of the half to really stretch his legs in the second period, with Shields under pressure he held the ball, delayed the play enough for support to arrive from midfield and move it on. The attack comes to nothing, but it bought seconds with time running out. The youngster showed some maturity in that passage of play.

16:51: GOOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! For much of the second half Shields and Mumba looked a spent force but the youngster was not to be held down. Having switched wings again, out to the right Mumba's late, late arrival in to the box is found expertly by Shields' other wingman Gillies and it's a quality finish by the youngster, running at pace, on the volley.

16:53: Full time. Mumba has put the icing on the cake of what was a memorable win for Shields, in more ways than one.