Red Mist Wright

Huddersfield Town U23 0 v Sheffield United U23 1

Monday 17 October 2016

U23 Professional Development League 2, North

Played at Canalside, Huddersfield

Twitter @ball_sup

Put that in context. Huddersfield won Professional Development League 2 last year. (Beat us in the final). They were top of the North going into this game - 16 points from 8 games. We’ve been struggling a bit. So, it’s a great result to mug them on their patch. And, it was a bit of a mugging. Huddersfield bossed it for possession & chances for the first half and up to around 60 minutes. Despite that, I felt United had stayed organised & switched on. Stuck to their tasks well. A little too defensive for my tastes. Jake Wright ending up covering a near enough left back position at times. Shea Gordon & Graham Kelly rooted as full backs, very little attacking threat. But, organised.

It got a bit feisty at the beginning of the second half & that shook things up a bit. Jake Wright had the once a game Red Mist come down. Forehead to Forehead with a fella seemingly a foot taller than him at one bit. A few yellows dished out. A good bit of braying from a large & noisy Hudders contingent in the crowd. Once the dust settled, Huddersfield were down to ten men.

And, fair play, United saw their chance, stayed organised and went for it. Not Helter Skelter. Just attacked intelligently. Shea had been more or less anonymous as an attacking threat. Now, he was bombing down the right, calling for it, cutting inside. Once Wright’s valium had kicked in, he was busy & positive. He banged what proved to be the winner in the 66th minute. Then, not really timewasting, but sensible game management got the Young Blades over the line. It’s unfair, but it’s happening. At one point, the Carrier Bag Firm let out a collective gasp as Long came way off his line to try & deal with a deep cross. He did well, but that’s not the point. The point is, it’s noticeable when he comes off his line. Because it’s rare. He had a couple of awful looking flap punches at crosses in the first half. The lad did manage a few neat shot stops. But, it’s damning, at times he just doesn’t look like a keeper.

But, collectively, not to put a downer on a great battling team performance. I counted nine SUFC Carrier Baggers. Salute.

What a great set up at Canalside. I’m a little sketchy with the geography. The complex is on Leeds Road. As was the old stadium. Which I’m told is now a B&Q Car Park. And, it’s close enough to the new stadium for it to be used as a supporters bar on first team match days. Which means it has a nice, full on bar - open every day. For your drinking (& if you must, eating) needs. Location. Location. Location. That would obviously not work at Shirecliffe. But, The Terriers making the best of their location. The main pitch is enclosed with a proper fence for your spectator leaning requirements down one side.

All of which leads to - two cask beers in the ClubHouse. Carrier Bagging doesn’t get much better than this. One was a Theakston’s. But, I went for the ever reliable & full of flavour Timothy Taylor’s, Landlord at 4.3%.

My 183rd “ground” watching a Sheffield United XI. I can’t wait to get back to that ClubHouse next year.

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