Goal Kick Hurrah

Bolton Wanderers U18 1 v Sheffield United U18 2

U18 Professional Development League, North

Played at the Eddie Davies Academy

Saturday 11 March 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

U18 Round Up

Right, that win clinches a top two Play Off place for the Can I See Your ID Please Blades. Indeed, a win away at The Owl’s Middlewood Training Ground on Tuesday will clinch the Title for SUFC U18. That’s a clash of course. I’ll be on my way to Swindon away with the Big Lads.  But, if you can…. it’s Tuesday, 14 March, 1pm, beat Wednesday to win the Title.

A reminder of the format. The Title to be won on Tuesday is U18 Professional Development League, North. That is the second level in the U18 Pyramid. The top level is called Premier League U18. That has 24 teams in it. At United’s level (U18PDL), 20 teams are split into North & South. You play each team in your region home & away (18 games). And, each team in the other region once (10 games). Giving a 28 game season. Then. The top of the North play at home in a single leg play off against second in the South. Top of the South at home to second in the North in a ditto. Winners play a single leg final (venue, I think by toss of coin) to decide the overall Professional Development League Winners.

Last year, SUFC U18s lost to Charlton on Penalties in that Final.
http://ball-sup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/heads-high.html

Anyroadup. After that win at Bolton, SUFC have 53pts from 24 games. SWFC lie second, 43pts from 23 games. A win on Tuesday gives us 56 - SWFC would only be able to get 55.  In the South, Charlton (58 from 25) & Coventry City (53 from 23) have already clinched the top two play off spots - and are battling it out for the South Title.

The Game

That was pretty even. Bolton were well organised & committed in defence. A lot of very clean, win the ball strongly, tackles. And, Bolton were very good at blocking crosses & square balls into their box. That meant that United struggled to get it going in the first half. Don’t get me wrong. It was very even. But the battering ram qualities of Hirst up front were a bit stifled. Similarly, Tyler Smith’s hard running & mess the defence up game. It’s an odd time of year for U18 players. Some, will have been given a contract for their next stage. United have announced deals for Tyler Smith & Sam Graham. They’ll be on the crest of a wave. But, maybe a little bit relieved and off their game. Others will know they’re going to be released and allowed to see if they can get a place elsewhere. Indeed, as Mark E Smith so succinctly puts it on The Inspiral Carpets I Want You - There Are Already All These Rumours Circulating Around. Players may or may not know that U18 Recruitment Scouts from other teams are watching them. No one ever said it was going to be easy.

United stayed in the game. They were better in the Second Half and got their noses in front through Horatio Hirst. But, after the Bolton equaliser, it took a Tyler Smith 89th minute winner to get it done. A player who shall remain nameless shouted “that’s why we’re top of the league” as he sprinted across to the corner flag for the celebratory pile on. Unnecessary, but not without humour…..

Subs, switch on, a bit of game management. One last Bolton chance was blazed high, wide, ugly. To bring one of the most celebrated Goal Kicks I’ve seen in football. Now go & win the North Title. Either in S6. Or in one of the three remaining games after that.

The Eddie Davies Academy turns out to be the 192nd ground I’ve seen an SUFC XI play on. All ages, all comps, all surfaces.

The Drinkypoos

Cloudwater Barrel Store. Under Piccadilly Station. Somewhere. Currently, the Cloudwater “Tap”. Too busy enjoying the Day Out & celebrating the U18 Play Offs to grab proper notes. But, you know the drill.  It’s mental. The best beer is proving to be the low abv Cloudwater Pale at 3.5%. Superbly opaque. Inviting. Full of Hop Stew flavours. But, the Carrier Bag Firm need to be thorough. So, in case I’d got it wrong & the Pale was “Ordinary”. I did try;

Cloudwater, IPL Vic Secret Comet at 6.2%
Cloudwater, IPA Chinook Vic Secret at 6.5%
Cloudwater & BrewDog Collab New England IPA at 6.8%

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