Aim for Brooksy's Caravan

Sheffield United U23 3 v Cardiff City U23 0

U23 Professional Development League, North

Monday 21 August 2017

SUFC 2017/18 Game 18

Twitter @ball_sup

Amateur hour. No Beer. (But see two 8.5+% IPAs from Saturday….)

That is two wins from two for the U23 Blades. By my calculations….. That puts us top of the early Table by the narrowest of margins over Sheffield Wednesday. Both played two won two. Our GD is +4. Theirs is +3. That was a great enjoyable game. Blood n guts at times. Everything was going in on some tackles. It’s only looking on countback that I’ve realised that, despite that, United were clearly the better side. And, that is reflected in the 3 nil score.

Smith & Hallam were lively throughout. Tyler in particular could have had a hatful. But, let’s not take anything away from him. He’s bagged two on his return from injury. We had to wait 37 mins for the first. The Cardiff keeper came out of his area to try and deal with a ball pumped towards him. Him n Smith arrived at roughly the same time. The ball fell loose. At first, I thought it was Jordan Doherty who picked up the loose ball & took it forward. But, on reflection, I think it was probably David Parkhouse. Anyway, the keeper is still rooted in stick or twist territory. The ball eventually broke loose back to Tyler Smith on the left hand edge of the area. He steadied himself and curled it in right footed.

On 63 minutes, Parkhouse won his header. Jordan Hallam cottoned onto it. It all opened in front of him, he drew the keeper and unselfishly rolled it across to Smith. Who tapped it home. It was a great goal as it unfurled in real time. Go on. Go on. Give it him. Give it him. Yeeesssss.

That came after Hallam’s goal on 57. Rhys Norrington-Davies marauding down the left. Banged it square. Hallam reacted first. Got in front of his man & poked it home. Sniffer.

In the first half, I counted two other great chances for Tyler Smith. Early on, his completely miscontrolled with the goal at his mercy. Emphasising. Parkhouse, Smith & Hallam were linking well & bang at it. In some phases, I felt that United were being out headed. But, Parkhouse is a battler. As usual, wingbacks Bennett & Norrington-Davies were getting constant encouragement to get forward. United were very fluid & switched on. Even Jordan Hallam filling in at right back at one stage. Sam Graham overlapping ala O’Connell. And staying up if it suited them.

The second half started with Hallam & Smith battling to hard to keep possession & squaring for Gilmour. But, it wasn’t quite in his stride. Confidence oozing. At one stage, it looked like they worked a Guzunder free kick. Hallam playing it “under” to Smith who immediately set it for Gilmour to run onto. But, it got smothered. There was even time for Cantrill to hit the post on a well worked corner routine.

Dewhurst had a bit of tidying up to do. And the odd tumbling save. Some long rangers sailed over him in the direction of the David Brooks Memorial Caravan. But, that really shows how much better United were.

520/1098