Stocksbridge to Staveley

Sheffield United U23 2 v Barnsley U23 1

U23 Professional Development League, North

Played at Stocksbridge

Staveley Miners Welfare U21 2 v Sheffield United Futures U21 4

North Midlands Development Football League U21 Level North

Monday 30 January 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

First Game

Still no sign of the new signings getting a run out at U23 level. Perpetual first team substitute Ramsdale got a start. And there was another defensive kerfuffle for the Barnsley goal. Ramsdale was partly involved. Maybe not quite as much as last week v Stoke.

A shirt for McNulty. Which lasted 10 minutes. I didn't see the incident. But he's ended up trying to carry on for a bit. No joy. So, he's hobbled off. He took his left sock off. Sat for a bit. But was then hobbled up the stairs to the rooms. His Sub, Tyler Smith, scored immediately & bagged the second an’ all.

A shirt for Scougall. Who was excellent in parts. A real threat down the left channel. Particularly in the first half. Indeed, one of those runs set up Tyler for his second. He still had a lot to do mind. Great turn & finish.

Set up as three at the back. Wilson, Semple & Kelly. Bennett & Mallon as wing backs. Regan Slater taking the Coutts role. Coming deep to the back three if they needed an outlet.

Barnsley were a threat at times. Notably in the second half. United struggled when Barnsley midfielders & wide boys ran at them. Backed off too far & too much. Nevertheless, a good win. When the last Bulletin was published, four points covered seven teams between 3rd & next to bottom. United were seventh. But the top two (Wednesday & Hull) are getting away a bit.

Between Games Drink

The All Inn, Staveley. Lovely & welcoming. Three handpulls on. Let me taste. I went Navigation, Nippon Ale on cask at 4.2%. Pumpclip claims rice in the malt & Sorachi Ace. Very pale in the glass. Very neutral aroma. Maybe just a hint of sugar. Very gentle to drink. A neat bitter finish gets there in the end. There's a lot going on - but all remains very gentle. The bitterness has a little tongue tingle to it.

Second Game

A battling performance all round. Both teams. I think United did shade it. So the 4-2 is about right. But, Staveley had been 2-0 up early on. So, that's a hell of a fight back. A nice bit of argy bargy late on. I couldn't quite see. It looked like it ended with the SMWFC physio having to be ushered off the pitch by his own keeper. He didn't want to go. No siree. Much preferred to keep arguing the toss on field with the ref & the SUFC Futures players.

That win will put us closer to leaders Handsworth Parramore. But, they're gonna be difficult to catch.

439/902
62