Professional Development League
Monday 11 April 2022
Played at Gresty Road
SUFC 2021/22 Game #66
Business end now. We've already got 47 points and top the table. Coventry can get a maximum of 49. They play twice before we next play. Slip ups by them might mean we win the league on the sofa. Otherwise, it's bring the noise to The Lane on Tuesday 26 April, 7pm v Millwall.
I'm not saying three nil flattered us. I'm not saying it wasn't comfortable in the end. But, it was a bit of a scrappy game (on a poor surface, it must be said). We never really seemed to scruff neck the game.
Ky Gordon, Iliman Ndiaye, Dan Jebbison & Kacper Lopata all started. All except Iliman did 90 minutes as well. Aidy Boothroyd was (again) sat quietly on the bench taking it all in. And, Jack Lester was in the seats. Maybe to keep an eye on the first team fringers.
Callum Hiddleston gloving. Kacper in the middle of a three, Gordon on his right & Miguel Freckleton left. Gomis outside Mig. Sai Sachdev outside Ky. Arblaster in the take it off them, Quarterback role. Sydie Peck (right) and 'dre Brooks (left) pushed up in midfield. Daniel & Iliman up top.
I felt the Young Blades should have gone one up right away. Sachdev put a clever cross in from the right. Iliman got on it & really, really should have scored. But, his no power side foot dink went wide.
To be fair, Alex showed a bit an' all. Always trying to play with the ball, they built it down their right. The ball forward caught Freckleton out a bit & Lopata "had to" put in a horrible challenge in front of the dugouts to break the move down. (Booked for that).
United were on top. Both Iliman & Jebbison being a bit greedy at times to keep the ball & get their own shots off. A few creative bits & pieces from Peck & Brooks to keep the top two in service. There was quite an odd phase of the game from about 15 to 35. Crewe kept trying to play out from the back. But, often lost it as United pressed & harried them. Equally, United kept losing it, or were robbed, in the final 33%, and looked very susceptible to rapid counter attacks.
It was as if both teams main attacks were coming from errors by the other team. Rinse, and repeat.
United continued to have the most clear cut chances. On 28, Iliman shot wide after wriggling into the box. On 31, Andre Brooks went on a mazy run across & into the box. But that ended with the keeper diving at his feet & smothering it.
At last. Deadlock broken on 39. The ball bobbled & bounced around the box on the right. Jebbison got it under control, of sorts. And knocked it along the six yard box for a simple Ndiaye tap in.
Just three minutes of sixty second duration later (ie not very long after) it was the old reverse-a-roo. With Ndiaye putting it on a plate for Jebbo. Who, I'm sorry, looked a bit lazy and stabbed it wide.
At times in that first half, the back three had looked a bit jittery & misfiring. All of them getting caught out at times by giving the ball away, or misjudging where they needed to be to tidy a through ball up. But. Equally, all three had enough skill & experience to recover from those mistakes & invariably get the ball back.
Again, in the second half, United should have scored more-or-less straight away. A great stand it up cross from Gomis, right on the noggin de Jebbison. Proper good hang time. But headed wide.
However, United soon (52 mins) got the game under control with an unusual corner routine. The wind swirling around Gresty Road. The corner flag to my left (the end we were defending) was being blown horizontal towards me. The corner flag to my right (the end were attacking) was being blown horizontal away from me. Down in that corner, on our right wing, left footed Andre Brooks attempted a number of inswinging corners with the wind behind him. Thing was. The ball wouldn't stay put. He'd put it in the quadrant. Bang it down. Make a little lip for it with his heel. And as he retreated for his run, the ball would blow away from him. Time after time.
Eventually, he got enough purchase on one. Swung it right to Big Mig. His header was blocked, but it fell nicely for Gordon to hit home. (NOT in the style of Uremović right at the death at The Lane on Saturday!!!)
Substitutions on 68 had Buyabu & Ayari on for Gomis & Ndiaye. And that same Andre Brooks left footed from the right corner routine brought it all home on 74 minutes. Again, bang on Freckleton's head. This time, a calm header straight in for three nil.
Brooks had had enough of the wind by that time and was immediately replaced by Lankshear.
A beer you say? Fucking farce man. Some decent beer hits in Crewe obvs. But, not on a fucking Monday lunch or early afts. Come on. Just not happening that. I've not gone there to watch a football game. I've gone for the Beer. Fucking farce man. Can't wait to get out of this Tinpot League. (Hint, we can't get out of this Tinpot League).
So, on a day of train cancellations & hasty plan Bs. Let the record show…
The Brunswick Inn
1 Railway Terrace, Derby DE1 2RU
Yes. Derby. Get over yourself.
Brunswick Brewing Co, Rocket, New World IPA on Cask at 4.7%
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Stats
I have now Blogged from 1,091 games in 2,792 days
Brilliant as always Phil 👍
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