Halifax Town and Sunderland U21 drew 1-1 in the ENL Cup on November 26, 2025, with the Black Cats' youth team advancing via a penalty shootout. The Shaymen took the lead in front of their home fans, capitalizing on a defensive error. Sunderland U21 responded positively and managed to equalize through a deflected effort, setting up a tense finish. With no further goals, the match went straight to penalties, where Sunderland's players displayed superior composure to win the shootout. This result represents a missed opportunity for Halifax, who matched their Category One opponents for large periods, but for Sunderland U21, it was a valuable test of nerve that they ultimately passed.