Under-18’s captain Smith came on as a late substitute and added a second goal after Jordan Laidler had earlier opened the scoring as Kevin Ball’s side defeated north-east rivals Newcastle United 2-0 in the Barclays U21 Premier League.
Martin Smith: “It was a great experience for me, to play at the Stadium of Light – which is a great honour – and to be playing up with the 21s.
“It was a good start, I was lucky enough to get on the pitch and I made the most of it so it was good.
“The first touch was vital, I had to get the first touch right and then I took the shot early, I planted the keeper and luckily it went in the back of the net.
“I’m really proud and really happy.
“I’ve just got to keep working hard.
“I’ve got to keep concentrating and improving my game and not looking too far ahead.
“You’ve got to have goals, though, to strive to reach them and my goal is to play in the under-21’s and I’ll keep working hard to get into Bally’s team.
“Hopefully I’ll get opportunities in the future but I’ve just got to keep my head down, keep training hard, working hard and hopefully I’ll get my opportunities.
“[They’re] a really good bunch of lads, [they’ve a] good attitude, [they] work hard for each other and they welcome the younger lads like myself into the group.
"They’re buzzing in there to have beaten our local rivals 2-0 - especially after Saturday with the first-team – so it’s a good night for us.
“He [Kevin Ball] has been massive in my short career so far; he gives great advice all the time and you’ve just got to learn to take everything on board, positive or negative.
“Everyone knows what type of person and coach he is so you’ve just got to learn from him.
“Obviously he’s captained the club that I support so it’s great to take things on board from him because he’s been where I want to be.
“He’s a good coach and a great motivator as well.”