Who scored?

Sheffield United U23 3 v Bolton Wanderers U23 2

Professional Development League, North

Monday 16 October 2017

SUFC 2017/18 Game 35

Wetherspoon’s Real Ale Festival. Monday Club. CAMRA 50p voucher. You know the drill.

Arcadia Brewing Company. From Kalamazoo in Michigan. This one brewed at Banks’s Wolverhampton. Autumn Wheat on cask at a whopping 6%.

Unusual, but lovely & serious beer. Strong enough to feel like it's numbing you from the off. Great tight head on this one. Smells just the zesty side of sour. Lots of orange peel. All the flavours play around. I was pretty sure I was getting spice in the earlier mouthfuls. But, as I've got down it, it's more orange. There's a background yeast funkiness. But, that just adds to the flavour. Rather than challenge. Fella knows what he's doing. Even in Wolverhampton. Salute.

I got into a right pickle live tweeting that. I was convinced Oliver Greaves had scored United’s second. At half time, I convinced myself that he hadn’t. On the full time whistle, one of the Carrier Bag Firm asked him. So, Oliver either scored both the second & third United goals. Or, is a convincing liar & will go far in the game.

Some facts would be appropriate. Sheffield United U23s have won that. After being a goal down in 3 minutes. Level a minute later. Through an Own Goal. The did he, didn’t he, Greaves goal was on 8 minutes. Eight minutes. To leave it 2-1 to the Young Blades at that point. Greaves knocked a great one in off the bar just on half time. Bolton dragged it back to 3-2 with a shot off a post. Jake Eastwood saved a Penalty on 67 minutes. Breathless. Can’t keep up. Mate, you should have been there…..

That win also puts the Young Blades TOP of Professional Development League, North. They’ve leapfrogged both Nottingham Forest & Sheffield Wednesday. Fifteen points from nine games. Won five. Lost four. It’s good. But, not all it seems. We’ve played two games more than both Forest & Wednesday. And, they’re both just one point behind us. SWFC play tomorrow. Let’s enjoy it all while it lasts.

Jake Bennett was missing. Although I’m sure I saw him in the stand. SUFC web says he’s injured. I need to remind everybody that Freeman is injured. I know we’ve got Baldock. And, I know we’ve got more Centre Halves than a club full of Centre Halves. Who we can & will juggle should the need arise for a right wingback. But, Bennett is the best right wingback in the development system. Back off. I’m not saying he’s ready. I’m saying he’s it. I hope it’s just a niggle. So, that if there is room on the bench - he’s “available”.

Regan Slater & David Parkhouse were both on the bench. All that juggling meant there was  a starting shirt for Oliver Greaves. Although, you tell me, that starting shirt was Number 14. He’s scored a few in the 18s. He gets a bench for the U23s most weeks. And he had a great, great game here. Once the dust had settled. I’m crediting him with two goals. His first (our second) a very neat solo effort. Mazy, no one can touch me, run into the box. It opened up for him. Calm finish. His second a well hit cross shot that beat the keeper, hit the bar and cannoned down & in. He was involved in lots of stuff. Not playing as out & out striker. With Ty Smith & Hallam more conventionally up front. More of a link/10. Busy in midfield. Filling in as & when for the CBs when they did the overlapping thang. Very impressive today.

To show what sort of game it was, Jake Eastwood also had a stormer betwixt sticks. The Greater Manchesterist didn’t look all that comfortable as he ran up to take the spot kick. But, Jake made a good diving save. Jake even made a great save in that third minute Bolton goal. A little dink ball over the top found ex-Blade & Academy Graduate Connor Hall in space. He did well. Took it on his stride & got a powerful shot off. Great save by Eastwood. But, another Bolteronian was following up & drilled it home.

Someone is presumably seeing something in Sam Graham I’m not. He’s set up again as the right of a back three. Recently with Heneghan in the middle. This time with George Cantrill in the middle. I don’t get it mesen’. Graham looks so comfortable, powerful & dominant in the middle of three. But, currently, Binnion & the coneheads are persevering with him on the right.

A better more controlled tempo for me in this game. Less Scarem of the Harem variety. But, ditto First Team, looking to be a constant attacking threat. Good game though. Bolton chucked the lot in at times. Could have gone either way.

552/1154