U18 Professional Development League
Saturday 5 February 2022
Played at Shirecliffe
SUFC 2021/22 Game #48
(No Beer in this Blog, I needed to be up at Sandygate for Hallam at 3pm)
Rejoice. Yet another new system for getting into the U18s at Shirecliffe this morning. Never experienced this one before. The magic five worder - The First Team Are In - was deployed a few times. Basically, the public were not allowed to use the path from the "bottom" car park & main building up to the "top" pitches. You know. Just in case we came within fifty fucking yards of Sander Berge (or similar). So, if you parked your car, you had to leave the complex on foot through the main gate & walk up Firshill Crescent, turn right on Shirecliffe Road & re-enter the complex through the top gate. A distance of 0.2 miles (Google Maps).
In a classic Balls Up, by the time they started letting people in the top gate at 10:45 (for 11am kick off), I needed a piss & had to go BACK down the road, enter the complex, use the facilities, leave the complex, go BACK up the road and re-enter. First words from the Carrier Bag Firm (who were enjoying this…) - how many steps you done?
I know some people get off on it, I don't. That was a snarling & nasty U18 Derby. In stoppage time. With United trying to run the clock down. The ball went into the United dug out & stayed there. No one returning it. That resulted in every player, from both sides, and every member of staff, from both sides in the one dugout. Fucking crowded mate. I watched carefully. No punches. But a few throats and a spectacular amount of pushing.
The Wednesday bench were in no doubt.
"That was your fault Del…"
Sounds about right. Wednesday were already down to ten men from 67 minutes anyway.
First look at Connor Barratt. He set up as one of two centre backs in a conventional four. The main thing you notice is his physicality. He's a tall lad. Lots of upper body strength as well. Got that Man Boy thing going on.
United had actually started the game calmly. Looking to control and build. But, at times it quickly descended to rush it into the channels. Both sides hit the woodwork before United's opener on 42. The ball was worked left. A looping deep cross from Josh Smith (I think). The tracking & marking looked appalling and Sydie Peck stayed calm and put the header home with no one near him.
But the S6 lot equalised just after half time. Fernando Macedo came on for George Dickinson on 56 minutes. His noisy fans, who I have praised in recent Blogs were NOWHERE to be seen. I can only assume they could not fathom out the earlier advice to leave the complex & walk up Firshill Crescent!! Nando had been booked by 62 and scored what would be the winner on 80. United again worked the ball left. There was a lot of bouncy bouncy and it dropped very nicely to Macedo just on the edge of the box. Great skill though to drill it into the bottom corner.
As I've explained, it got ratty after that. But, of course it matters to these lads.
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