Sheffield United U18 2 v AFC Wimbledon U18 1
FA Youth Cup Third Round
Tuesday 17 December 2019
Played at Bramall Lane
SUFC 2019/20 Game 39
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We had a great "don't come around very often" Beer Opportunity in The Devonshire Cat while waiting for the cones to be put out at The Lane. The Carrier Bag Firm's old favourite. CASK v KEG Drink Off. The same beer, available on Cask AND Keg, in the same Ale House. Not least of the fun is watching the BarPerson make sure they've heard you right.
"Two halves of Baltic Up North mate"
"Cask or Keg" … (slightly sanctimonious)
"Oh, Yes, One of each please" … (have that….)
Tonight's offering was an Abbeydale Brewery & Hammerton Brewery (Islington) Collaboration, Baltic Up North, a 7% Baltic Porter.
In the Keg version, I got nice chocolate flavour coming at me quite quickly. But then I thought it took a while to settle down. As if you were searching for flavours. Once that was all sorted out, there was a nice underpinning bitterness. The balance of flavours was good. But, there was an annoying bit of an odd citrus taste in there somewhere.
The Cask version was rich & creamy from the off. The calmer, cellar temperature, allowed the richness to develop. The flavours went through bonfire toffee. And the whole lot left some very nice sugar sitting on your lips.
CASK. Wins.
Lovely. A proper Youth Cup night at The Lane. Nice mob of Wimbledon fans taking over the best seats in the South Stand. I understand some of them had travelled up on the Team Bus. They all got a letter off the players & staff thanking them for their support. They got back to Kingsmeadow (which incidentally is NOT in Merton) at 2:24am. Salute.
A dinging donging end to end affair. Which maybe needed a bit more quality. It swung towards Giant Killing before a Super Sub intervention won it. Complete with perfectly executed knee slides in front of empty stands. You beauty.
Because of our Premier League status, we only have to come in at this, the Third Round proper, stage. Wimbledon had already beaten Leyton Orient (5-0) & Hanworth Villa (5-1) to get to this stage.
Unusually for the U One Eights, we set up with a back three - Tommy Williams, Ky Gordon & Nicksoen Gomis. Jake Kelly & Boyes (H) out wide. Gaxha & Ackroyd up top. Maguire & Neal in midfield. Brunt in maybe the ten.
For me, the story of the game was both teams matching each other - blow for blow. It was all a bit rushed. I'd have preferred Neal or Brunt to just put their foot on it a bit at times. Wimbledon were impressive at times & stayed in the game all night. Frank Maguire took a right old bang. And was clearly limping along. I was surprised they didn't haul him off. He didn't come out for the second half - Andre Brooks subbing.
And…. Wimbledon took the lead on 60. At the time, my head said that was it. Daniel Jebbison got stripped off. I felt they'd take Gaxha off - at least Sam Ackroyd's old skool channel running gave us an attacking threat. But, no, Ackers subbed off.
Well. Daniel is a growing lad. Mainly upwards. Rather than outwards. Long, long & thin. No drama. He's stamped himself right on this one. Bagging the equaliser within two minutes of coming on. Quick flowing move down the right. Deep, miss out a man, cross. Long run into the box by Jebbo to meet it & smashes it home - with a capital MASH.
And, then, on 80. The Dons defenders are standing too far off Jebbison. A perfect ball into his path. He doesn't need a deft first touch. There's no one near him. He can fucking shin it for all I care. He gets it on the edge of the box. The keeper advances. Surely he'll place it. No. SMASH. Two. Nil.
Corner Flag Pile On. Manage the game. Fulham at home next round.
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