Great game, Poor beer

Watford U23 2 v Sheffield United U23 2
Professional Development League 2
Played at Vicarage Rd

Monday 9 April 2018

SUFC 2017/18 Game 79

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Sighs. Landed back in the country at 0555am. In 'spoons at 1210. The Moon Under Water, Watford. I got served one of the most unappealing pints I've ever seen. I discussed it with the Team Leader. She fucking defaulted to putting me in charge of Quality Assurance. “If you don't want it, we'll change it”. Not how a pub works, love.

The fella looks like he has never pulled a pint through a handle before. Natch, it comes out looking as flat as a fart. Me head spins. You do partly taste with your eyes. But, it's beer. I'll literally swallow it. Welcome Home.

Great Newsome, Holderness Dark on cask (apparently) at 4.3%
Some chocolate. Some coffee. The bitterness comes. Shut your eyes. That's a well put together beer. Open your eyes. Which has been ruined.

Ding Dong. Ebb Flow. That one. Utd were behind twice. Both times equalising a couple of minutes later. We chucked the lot at it in the last five plus injury time. And then. As that didn't result in the winner, we've chucked a load extra at it an’ all. I actually feel disappointed we didn't win that right at the death. We had one of those mad kick it, kick it goalmouth scrambles and any number of Blades might have got it bundled home. Drat.

Watford were bang in it throughout. They'd had a super spell at the end of the first half. Marcus Dewhurst, with the spongy gloves for SUFC, kept them out time and again time. He was only beaten just after the break by a very unlucky deflection. But, by the end, The Horns were time wasting a bit, as Utd wouldn't give up.

I've been missing, presumed fucking about without a valid excuse, from recent U Two Three games. So, I'm a bit behind on my trialists. I don't think we've seen Jay Beckley before. Correct me. Also, good luck on finding owt on Google. Is Ask Jeeves still a thing?

Anyway, I have sources. But just ask yourself how reliable the sources of a bumbling old tit, who blogs about beer, are likely to be. My sources say - he's come up through Arsenal. I think that's probably Jay Beckford. For the avoidance of doubt I'll call him Jay.

He set up mainly wide right midfield. Creative. Rather than Coutts, box to box or in the hole. Lasted until 73. When he was subbed by David Parkhouse. He himself was subbed at 88 - limping.

Jay clearly grew into it. Becoming more & more confident. He was not take your breath away while the hairs on your neck stand erect impressive. But, he did good. Looks v young. Good, quick feet. Holds the ball well. He'd got all the stepover & hip swivelling caper going on. But, despite that shit, he was effective.  Jay had a great chance as early as 23. The Watford big time Charlie tried to do some flicky thing on the edge of his own box. Regan Slater simply wasn't having that. He robbed him & the interplay left Jay free on the right. To be critical, he was too greedy in taking the shot. When a ball into The Mixer might have been best.

He also did well on 58. Lively like a wriggly thing down our right. He got his cross in. But the keeper beat the shot out from whoever it was with his feet.

I'll give honourable mentions to

Stephen Mallon. Very bright in patches. Sometimes in a fetch and go role deep on our left. Sometimes in a more direct, run at them, see what happens role. He just couldn't get the final ball into the feet of the runners a couple of times.

Regan Slater. (see above). He's a stocky thing isn't he? Elements of short though. Late on, he's had the wrestling match with their number 10. Who, looks from the stand to be apparently twice Regan's size. Only one winner though. Incidentally, great reffing. Despite all the usual pointing, chest sticking outy, and shoving. The Ref has sent everyone else away. Given Slater & The Recently Floored a right old talking to. But, no cards. Loving his work…

Jordan Doherty, in parts. Makeshift centre back again today. He reads the game very intelligently. So, his positioning is good. He's also quite nippy. That makes him a good “tidy things up nicely” centre back.

Callum Semple was involved in both goals. Getting something on the corner at (as I remember it) the near post for the first one. Eventually it fell loose to Oure who rifled it home. Semple got a clean header to a Mallon cross for the second.

In general, I felt Watford were finding too much space in midfield. They were able to get the ball from the keeper or centre backs, turn, and run at The Blades. They caused us loads of trouble.

639/1329