Both sides came into tonights FA Youth Cup Second Round tie off the back of slender victories over their 1st round opponents Tranmere and Stratford town respectively.

The Blades started positively, forcing an early corner which didn’t create too much danger for the visitors.

A few minutes later visiting keeper Boot was left with his palms stinging after McFadzean, Ironside and Deaking combined to test the visitors resolve.

Despite the visitors closing and pressuring the Blades well, it was United who opening the scoring when on 7 minutes, the probing run of McFadzean was halted when he was brought down in the area.

The referee hesitated and it was the linesman who’s erratic flagging drew his colleagues attention and ensured a penalty was given.
The taker was never in any doubt, with captain Elliott Whitehouse confidently stepping up and dispatching the spot kick past the outstretched Ryan Boot into the bottom corner.

The Blades then started to settle down and play some good football, albeit mindful of the danger the hardworking visitors possessed.
The game continued fairly end-to-end without either side really testing the goalkeepers until the Blades doubled their advantage on 28 minutes.

United capitalised on a mistake by the Valiant’s defence, resulting in an impressive run by Danny Deakin, waltzing past 3 visiting defenders and placing the ball past the visitors keeper with the applause having begun before he even struck the ball.

A few minutes later, the visitors were close to pulling one back with captain Joseph Davis’ header from 6 yards kept out with by a reaction save from George Willis.

The pacy Jahmal Smith looked to cause trouble, running it at Vale defence but his cross-shot was cut out by Ryan Boot.

In the dying minutes of the first half, the visitors pulled one back with Chris Salt unlucky to deflect a Vale corner into his own net.

This was pretty much the last action of the half, Vale would have been happy to get one back at such a vital time.

Despite conceeding just before the break, United were the more positive in the opening stages of the second half. With good work from Ironside forcing the visitors into a desperate block, with the follow up just evading the post. Terry Kennedy had a powerful effort blocked well on the line, before having another effort repelled after getting on the end of a Danny Deakin cross.

The game was hotting up and after a plethora of late challenges, the referee was forced to give his first yellow card of the game on 70 minutes, with visiting captain Davis forcing the referee to get involved.

Jahmal Smith had a cracking effort saved on 78 minutes after Deakin cut inside and the ball fell kindly to the pacey Smith. It was to be his last action of the night however, as minutes later he hobbled off the pitch to be replaced by Max Pemberton.

With the match looking destined to end 2-1, Jack Pryor had other ideas, smashing a blistering shot into the top corner leaving Blades keeper Willis with no chance.

The Blades looked to restore their lead and avoid extra time, but Kennedy’s header from a Deakin corner was saved.

The first period of extra time was fairly uneventful, with the only dangerous looking effort coming from Joe Ironside on 101 minutes. The big striker held off and turned his marker, before getting his shot away, sadly ending up just wide of the near post.

Just after the teams switched sides, Owen Heather looked sure to put the Blades back in front after robbing the defender and bearing down on the keeper. The impressive Boot was equal to the effort though and beat the effort away.

On 113 minutes, it was the Blades who were hanging on with a real goalmouth scramble. Thankfully eventually the ball dropped to Terry Kennedy who managed to clear down field.

A minute later a long ball forward allowed a Vale man to spring the defence but the brave Willis rushed out and claimed the ball, taking a boot to the body in the process.

Level after extra time, the tie was to be decided on a penalty shoot out in front of the empty Bramall Lane end…

Penalty 1 – Port Vale: Oliver Marland, saved by Willis to his right.
Penalty 2 – Sheffield United: Joe Ironside, scored!
Sheffield United 1 – 0 Port Vale
Penalty 3 – Port Vale: Ryan Lloyd, scored.
Sheffield United 1 – 1 Port Vale
Penalty 4 – Sheffield United: Callum McFadzean, scored!
Sheffield United 2 – 1 Port Vale
Penalty 5 – Port Vale: Tom Morris, scored.
Sheffield United 2 – 2 Port Vale
Penalty 6 – Sheffield United: Owen Heather, scored!
Sheffield United 3 – 2 Port Vale
Penalty 7 – Port Vale: Dominic Plant, scored.
Sheffield United 3 – 3 Port Vale
Penalty 8 – Sheffield United: Max Pemberton, saved by Boot to his left.
Penalty 9 – Port Vale: James Lee, scored.
Sheffield United 3 – 4 Port Vale
Penalty 10 – Sheffield United: Adam Hinchliffe, scored!
Sheffield United 4 – 4 Port Vale
Penalty 11 – Port Vale: Dominic Thorley, scored.
Sheffield United 4 – 5 Port Vale
Penalty 12 – Sheffield United: Charlie Anderson, scored!
Sheffield United 5 – 5 Port Vale
Penalty 13 – Port Vale: Joshua Croft, missed!
Penalty 14 – Sheffield United: Chris Salt, missed!
Penalty 15 – Port Vale: Jack Pryor, scored.
Sheffield United 5 – 6 Port Vale
Penalty 16 – Sheffield United: Jordan Hodder, scored!
Sheffield United 6 – 6 Port Vale
Penalty 17 – Port Vale: William Whieldon, scored.
Sheffield United 6 – 7 Port Vale
Penalty 18 – Sheffield United: Terry Kennedy, scored!
Sheffield United 7 – 7 Port Vale
Penalty 19 – Port Vale: Douglas Price, missed!
Penalty 20 – Sheffield United: Danny Deakin, scores!
Sheffield United 8 – 7 Port Vale, Sheffield United win on Penalties.

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