Sheffield United U23 2 v Barnsley U23 1
Professional Development League, North
Monday 27 September 2017
SUFC 2017/18 Game 27
Good win by the Young Blades. They leapfrog today’s opponents Barnsley (and Nottingham Forest) to go second in the North (behind SWFC). That could change, as Forest play Tuesday. Four wins & three defeats from our 7 games. I think I’ll happily say that United were the better team. But, it was one each for 15 mins of the second half until United got (what proved to be) the winner.
I’m going to start with a Grumble. I’m going to do something I rarely do. I’m going to say something negative about a Young United player. With Jake Wright Jnr a) on loan at Harrogate Town & b) injured & walking around in a Ski Boot. With Horatio Hirst loaned back to Oxford City. David Parkhouse is the main tall, target man, striker in the Development set up. David has recently done well with Northern Ireland U21. He leads the line well. Wins his share of flick on headers. From which Jordan Hallam & Tyler Smith can benefit from on their supporting runs. But, he needs to score more. Indeed, he needs to get on the end of more corners & crosses. He won’t stand out as a player with potential unless he gets on the scoresheet a lot more than he currently does.
For eg, Rhys Norrington-Davies made a great break, fed Parkhouse, but he fired well over. Smith put in a great cross, Parkhouse was on the end of it, he headed it down, and the keeper pushed it over on the bounce. I felt he should have scored from that one.
Moving on…. Norrington-Davies had a great game. Standout player for me today. Rhys set up as left wing back. (intriguingly, it was George Cantrill who set up in the middle of the back three, not Sam Graham). Norrington-Davies had the key assist in both United goals. And, was an attacking threat throughout. After 41 minutes, RND made a great break down the left. At first, it looked like it’d come to nowt. But, it got worked widish right to Jordan Hallam. He composed himself & steadied it. Rifled it home.
For the second, same gig. Great RND break down the left. Fired it in. And Tyler Smith flicked it over the keeper for a well worked goal. Rhys has got pace, he traps the ball well, into his stride quickly. Very good decision making. Heavily involved. Standout.
Harvey Gilmour was also impressive (again). One inch perfect crossfield ball, brought down perfectly by Norrington-Davies had me purring. Travis Binnion summed that one up - “Harvey, outstanding”.
The Young Blades had a good few chances. Jordan Hallman had a great chance right at the start. George Cantrill had a header from a corner point blank saved. Towards the death, the Barnsley keeper made another point blank save from a Sam Graham header. From the resulting corner, Graham hit the bar with his header. Earlier on, Hallam had a great break, put in a good deep cross to Ty Smith. But, he was always stretching for it & nodded it wide. Hallam had another break, but fired high, wide, handsome.
Jake Eastwood was betwixt sticks. Back from his stints with the First Team. Jake made a great point black save to tip a header onto the bar very late on. Effectively, that kept us in it. In the first half, when Barnsley had a lively spell, Eastwood nicely palmed down a well struck free kick. Finally, trialist Jack Snelus came on for a cameo. He was actually quite lively. Sort of striker/in the hole behind the strikers. Indeed, I felt if he’d been a bit more direct & greedy, he could/should have scored. Binnion was congratulatory to him in his shouts.
And, I’ll finish with another gripe. Why the Hell has nobody took me to one side & explained The Doctors Orders on Glossop Road to me? Maybe I’d just put it in me head as “Student Pub”. Not, that I’ve even got a problem with those. Anyway. In case you’ve missed it & no one will explain it to you. Let me.
It’s the outlet for Little Critters Brewery. An array (was it six?) of their casks on the bar. Just theirs. No others. Manager was very helpful when I quizzed him. Interesting beers. I fully enjoyed the two I had. In particular Little Critters, ‘C’ Monster at 6.5% was a serious beer. I loved it. Deep & rich. Nice abv burn. Gorgeous.
Augmented on the night by
Little Critters, White Wolf on cask at 5%.
Butcombe, Crimson King on cask at 4.3%
542/1133
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