Premier League Cup, Group E
Friday 13 January 2023
Played at Dulwich Hamlet
SUFC 2022/23 Game #43
The final Blades game in the Premier League Cup Group Stage. This is the U21 tournament where Academies like us, Category 2, can mix it with the Category 1 Big Boys. In this year's cup, we've beaten Cat 1 Newcastle United twice. Beat Bristol City at home and lost away. And, today's opponents, Crystal Palace, beat us 2-1 at The Lane in November.
Windy overnight. Tree on the line at Kettering. And, a signaling fault at Market Harborough. All made for a keep checking the App, keep checking the watch, somewhat frustrating journey en route South London. Support the RMT.
All worth it. In a classic - it's the result that counts - cup match. Very limited technical skills on display, even from Palace. A frantic, bypass midfield display from the Young Blades. Hoofed clearances aplenty. Last ditches an' all. But, a strong stay in the game will and a deal with it demeanor made for an enjoyable day out.
I understand there were a pushings n a shovings after the final whistle. Talk of cards being wafted feverishly. We'd already left via Gate A. But could hear the shouting as we threaded through St Francis Park.
Ky Gordon, Ismaila Coulibaly, Andre Brooks & Will Osula all missing from the side we'd pushed out at York in the week. (There's another U21 game on Monday 16 Jan, three in six days).
Giving us, Cal Hiddlestone in goal. Captain Finley Potter in the middle of a three. Levis Pitan on his right, Joe Starbuck wide right. Nicksoen Gomis on Finley's left, with Jili Buyabu wider left. Charlie Staniland in front of them. Pretty fluid, but Owen Hampson on the right, Louie Marsh on the left. Antwoine Hackford and Theo Williams up top.
No subs, even though we were under the cosh and running on empty at times. The starting XI finished. Currently, I do not like this more withdrawn role they're using Marsh in. He's an impact player. The Carrier Bag Firm set ourselves a challenge. If/when United play through the lines, with midfield link ups, and slipped through balls to Antwoine and Theo, sound a metaphorical klaxon. Barely happened. And not much of an attacking threat out wide either. Consequently, Marsh was bypassed and missed out a lot of the time. Living off scraps.
Hopefuls over the top and all day and night channel running was how it hung. That said, no one played badly. No one whiffed, let alone stunk.
Neither team really stamped any sort of control. Palace were a bit more composed, a bit more recycle and come again. But, they were far from dominant. The first fifteen were frantic, fucking frantic. By 30, I felt we were deffo under the cosh. OK, dealing with things defensively, but not having a real outlet & just waiting for the next wave attack. We very much needed to put some calm into the game.
Towards the end of the half, Palace #6, Kofi Balmer took the ball off Hackford's toe and broke forward, feeding the channel man. Potter stood off him a bit, but he shot just wide n high. Immediately, Hackford had a great chance. He broke clear, and the ball bounced a bit high, making his best option to lob the keeper. But, he took a touch, his shot hit the keeper, and Theo couldn't quite stretch far enough for the rebound.
I thought we started the second half a bit brighter, a bit more endeavour. But, still relying on the longer balls. And. Lo. It paid off. A long kick by Callum Keeper, Williams (T) got it under control, took it down the left channel, squared it, I think more into the danger area than to the man. But Antwoine had kept at it, and half rolled, half bundled it in towards the back post.
Maybe we settled a bit after that. We didn't go ultra defensive, and we still struggled to get any coordinated play going. But, at least we knew what was unfolding. Things summed up on 66. When Potter took a free kick just inside his own half. Fucking driiiiiilled the thing. Maybe his eye saw a wide left run. We'll never know as the ball hit Chaz of Staniland bang on the head about 8 yards away!!!
Only needing a draw, the goal rejuvenated the lads a bit. Just putting that extra bit of battle in. Indeed, Theo had a good chance on 75, maybe he could have tried to lob the keeper, but he took it on, the Palace defender closed him down well. But, fair play, Theo got a great shot off, which was tipped over.
As more backs, were against more walls, Palace did get an equaliser on 90+3. But, simple game management got the needed point over the line.
Logistics meant we didn't have time to celebrate with the Ale. But, with a 1pm kick off, I'd managed to quaff one in;
East Dulwich Tavern
1 Lordship Ln, London SE22 8EW
which opened at Noon. Great place (been before). I counted seven on Cask. And eight on pukka craft keg. The kegs felt a bit "popular safe" to me. All the standards, very little boundary pushing. Still, the one I had was excellent.
Gypsy Hill Brewing Co, Hepcat, Session IPA on Keg at 4.6%
Mosaic, Citra, Mouteka and Ekuanot in the mix. Perfectly refreshing. Nicely opaque. Lots of mandarin orange. Bitterness builds slowly after being a bit shy up top. Keeps coming at yer. Worryingly moreish. Excellent.
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