Professional Development League
Monday 22 April 2024
Played at The Valley
SUFC 2023/24 Game #62
Entry to the game was in through main reception and up through one of the executive/hospitality bars at The Valley. Meantime Brewing Co. Prime Pale and Anytime IPA were both on sale in that bar. But, we weren't able to take advantage I'm afraid.
Just on kick off, a whole heap of schoolkids emerged and walked down the steps to sit in the seats at the front and absolutely get at it. I assume local kids from local schools invited along by the club to cheer on their team. And, if it weren't their team, maybe it will be now. And. That's the point.
One of the ungracious Carrier Bag Firm remarked;
“Maybe it's instead of Detention, Phil.”
Club officials brought down a pile of programmes from previous first team games to hand out to the kids. Further cementing the deal. It quickly became obvious that there weren't enough free old programmes to go around. For which I can only apologise.
One of the Carrier Bag Firm had seen the piles of programmes on offer on a table in the bar earlier. Gannet doesn't cover it.
United had to win this one to go top of the North Group. And, having played fewer games than rivals, look handily placed.
Jordan Amissah in goal. Evan Easton in the middle of a three. Levis Pitan to his right and Jack Waldron out wide. Zain Tahir at left centre back and Jay Tinsdale wide left. Aston, Hampson and Blacker across midfield. Ryan Oné definitely up top. Louie Louie Marsh roaming and slightly withdrawn off him.
What a game. United had loads of chances. But didn't quite make it count. Charlton were dangerous on the break. But didn't have many of them. Once the Blades got in front, it looked done. But, we tired, and subbed, and sat off. And Charlton got back into it. All a bit messy in the end.
House on fire start. Sam Aston jumped on a defensive mistake and had a clear run. But, shot wide. Blacker Billy wriggled into the box. But, shot tamely at the keeper. The first 20 were all United. After a neat build up, Ryan dragged one wide from just inside the box.
Maybe they got a bit frustrated. But things started to get a bit disjointed. I've mentioned before that Marsh has not hit the heights he was at before his loan and injury. At times, he's got that slightly annoying thing Andre Brooks has. He's too eager to run straight at defenders, get it stuck in his feet, and lose it.
A bit of a wake up call on 31. A great sweeping Charlton counter attack should have ended better at the back stick. It took a great block by Easton to keep it out.
I don't think I've ever seen a spell like the last fifteen of the first half. So many chances for United. So many touches in the box. A Marsh shot wide. A worked corner ended with an Easton shot blocked. A different pattern corner, Marsh takes a touch, but shoots wide. Hampson drew a great save from the keeper. A move down the left ended with Marsh not being sharp enough, it fell loose to Oné, he leaned back and blazed over. The keeper made a great stick-a-leg out save to deny Marsh. And just before the whistle, the Charlton keeper beat out a Marsh 30 harder.
Nil Nil. Half Time. How? And breathe.
And breathe a sigh of relief on 49. As Levis Pitan opened the scoring. A deep right wing corner by Jay Tinsdale found a climbing Pitan. He looped the header in for one nil.
Great hold up play by Oné played Aston in. His first go hit the keeper, and he blazed the rebound over. On 60, a great move saw Easton play through the lines to Aston, who played Oné in brilliantly. Only a superb save kept the lead to one.
Another corner found Pitan again. This time, his header was saved. From the resulting corner, Tinsdale worked a near post routine and Easton side foot volleyed it home. Two nil.
I see Owen Hampson was on the bench for the first team at Old Trafford. Maybe that's why they hooked him here at 63. Whatevs. But that change disrupted United a bit. Much less fluid without Owen. Sasnauskas came on. Dropped into centre back. With Evan Easton pushed up to makeshift midfield.
Oné scored the third just after that sub. But Charlton clawed one back immediately. Three One. As we went into the last ten, the Young Blades were knackered. Some players running on empty and anonymous. Waldron took a whack. And the Charlton player stood over him and explained a few things. Ryan Oné didn't like that and gave the guy an almighty whack with his shoulder. It all kicked off. But I don't know how Oné stayed on. Well. He didn't. The bench hooked him for Kiwomya to save him from himself !!!
It was all Charlton from there. A cross along the floor all the way across the box. United defending very deep and conceding space. Not dealing with it in the six yard box. And it only took a flick to make it 3-2 on 90 +1.
And. Amissah Time. A staggering strong wrist low down save to not only keep the shot out, but get it well out of harm's way as well.
It's done. Much the better team. But nervous at the end.
The Rake
Borough Market, 14A Winchester Walk, London SE1 9AG
Duration Brewing (Norfolk), Sweeping Coast, West Coast Pale on Keg at 4.8%
Lovely beer. Quite citrus in the first half. Some icing sugar.
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