10-3-2-1-1

Sheffield United 5 v Stockport County 0
(Billed as Development Squad)
Played at Shirecliffe
Handsworth Parramore 1 v Sheffield United 5
(Billed as First Team)
Played at Sandy Lane, Worksop

Friday 29 July 2016

Pre Season Friendlies

Twitter @ball_sup

I've got that Handsworth game at Worksop Town as my 175th ground watching a Sheffield United XI. Using the any piece of grass method of counting.

What a time to be alive. Two games. One microbrewery. One Beer Festival. Read that again.

Need to concentrate on the beer. First up Fuggle Bunny Brew House. I never expected to be there. The guy who was giving us a lift basically kidnapped us & took us there. A benign kidnapping. Great place. It looked like the brewery had been hidden away behind drop down sheeting. It was very busy. Tables & chairs & some benches. A bar over there in the corner. Three on cask & a cider. I'd gone full Stockholm Syndrome at this point. Bought my kidnapper a drink.

They had the superb (as previously sampled) 24 Carrot IPA on at 6% and then some. But, I went for Oh Crumbs at 3.8%.

Thence onwards to The Mallard Summer Beer Festival at Worksop Station. Privileged to meet my Twitter Brother Wayne whose gaff it is & who brews as Double Top. Great place. I couldn't really do it justice as I was boring Wayne shitless too much. I sat in the ground level bar. I am reliably informed there's a downstairs. (A lot of the beers were on down there).

Nice Festival business model. Send for a mixed pallet. Put 'em on. No pissing about. The list looked great Anarchy, Burning Sky, Hammerton, Howling Hops, Raw, Hopjacker, Tiny Rebel, Wild Beer. Come on. You gotta love.

And, Tarn 51, Against The Tide at 4.4%, Caveman, Session Pale at 3.6%. Both of which I piled into.

Clubhouse Leader In The Clubhouse

Games need to be upped. It's still Glossop. Worksop was well appointed. But no cask & no bottle attempt I could see.

OK. First time I think I've seen David Parkhouse. He played conventional up top target man at Shirecliffe. Taller than I'd expected. Still a young lad. Won his headers. Should have put more away if truth be told. Bagged two. Eyes will be kept on. If that was Regan Slater bossing it in midfield. He bossed it. If it wasn't him, someone bossed it.

Mixed bag at Handsworth/Worksop. They got it done. Nice to see Shea Gordon finally play with a nominal First Team. David Brooks got on the scoresheet. Grows in confidence.

Ten goals.
Three beers.
Two games.
One Microbrewery.
One Beer Festival.

In pre season. I'm putting both hands up. I'm ready Tufty.

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