Professional Development League
Friday 3 March 2023
Played at York City
SUFC 2022/23 Game #48
Beerless Blog on the road back to 14 Units.
The Under 21s are cracking on with their season. We've played more games than the others - 22 gone in a 28 game season, some teams have only played 17. That win puts us on 49 points, nineteen points clear at the top (Wigan & Hull on 30).
Carrier Bag Firm opinion was divided. We all agreed that was a get out of jail comeback win. Some people felt we'd been second best & poor. I felt we'd been second best, but not too bad.
I felt we had a good tempo and intensity. We were reasonably mobile, a bit urgent at times, but fairly accurate with passes. But, so were Barnsley - with knobs on. They murdered us down our right side. Sai Sachdev and Connor Barratt were over there. The Barnsley #3, Eduino Uaz, was very impressive going forward in that channel. Skipping past our midfielders and defenders for fun. Although he was named on the teamsheet, Barnsley Twitter had him as a trialist.
The Barnsley opener came down that side on 27 minutes. Barratt looked in the land of no man as Barnsley broke. He made an in vain grab for his man. And I felt Callum Yam went to ground a little too early and easily. But, it was a great, calm finish anyway.
Yam with the gloves. Levis Pitan in the middle of a three, Barratt on his right, Sachdev wide. Miguel Freckleton at left centre back with Jili Buyabu wide left. Arblaster anchoring midfield with Owen Hampson right and Louie Marsh as a ten. But, it was all rather fluid in there. Will Osula and Ant Hackford up top.
I'll continue to say meaningless things about Osula. He looks like a striker and does striker things. Don't ask me for specifics. I just feel there's a lot to like. That said, both him & Hackford had hot and cold games. Lively and mobile at times, but anonymous at other times.
United started a bit brighter after the half time PowerPoint presentation. Will O getting a shot off straight away. On 52, Will skipped down our left with the old stepover overkill and put in a good low cross which Hackford couldn't quite get on the end of.
They fetched Osula off on 70 (for George Dickinson). And, man alive, it all changed. I doubt he'd sat down on the bench before Hackford rifled a shot goalwards. Was it going in? We were sat at a difficult angle to judge. But it took a complete send everyone the wrong way deflection off a defender and rolled into the empty side of the goal.
Before I could finish writing all that shit down in the notepad, Louie Marsh scored a trademark no build up goaheader. Taking the ball comfortably, breaking into the inside right channel and getting a great shot off past the keeper. It's a simple game sometimes.
Barnsley had started the game with a shot cleared off the line (Mig I think) on 2 minutes. And finished strongly looking for the equaliser, with a great chance going just wide on 89.
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