Manchester United's Under-18s maintained our 100 per cent start at league level this term, with a hard-fought 4-3 victory away to Sunderland.
Bendito Mantato struck twice in the first half to earn a 2-1 lead at the break, and the hosts also netted an own goal, but the Black Cats battled back and the teams were level approaching the climax of an entertaining clash.
However, Jim Thwaites claimed the late winner to ensure Adam Lawrence's side maintained our superb form to sit in second spot in the table, a point adrift of Derby County, with a game in hand.
Samuel Lusale and Chido Obi-Martin made their first appearances for the Under-18s, with the latter coming on as a substitute.
United imposed ourselves on the game and established a two-goal lead within 25 minutes. Mantato, called into Neil Ryan's England Under-17s squad this week, scoring both of them.
However, Fin Garagusaan pulled one back, five minutes before the interval, to change the mood in the north east and provide the home side with a boost going into the second half.
Skipper Munro's shot was turned in by the hosts' Finlay Holcroft to restore our advantage on 48 minutes, only for Ben Kindon to reply soon afterwards, and Garagusaan to notch his second to level things up at 3-3.
However, the Reds refused to be denied and Thwaites, on as a substitute for Amir Ibragimov, came up trumps, in the closing stages, to earn another three points.
United: Murdock; Kamason, Armer, Munro (c) (Mills 63), Kukonki; Baumann, Fitzgerald; Mantato, Ibragimov (Thwaites 70), Lusale (Lacey 46); Musa (Obi-Martin 63).
Substitute not used: Byrne-Hughes.
United scorers: Mantato 18,25 Holcroftt og 48, Thwaites 87.