After a warm morning in various unsuspecting seaside establishments the traveling Blades descended on The Globe Arena for the very first time to see a strong United side take on The Shrimps.
Winning multiple accolades in the British Pie Awards and recently supplying Harrods, many Blades were busy tucking into the award winning snack whilst speculating whether Danny Wilson’s selection would be mirrored when the season proper begins.
The opening exchanges brought nothing of note, most of the play in midfield with the back five of either side only really called upon to restart spells of possession.
A couple of crosses from the home side were dealt with comfortably, before are the other end Chris Porter fed the ball to Manchester United loanee John Cofie who shot from distance, seeing his effort blocked by a Morecambe defender.
Minutes later, it was almost an action replay as Porter chested down a ball to Cofie, who unleashed a powerful long range drive, this time pushed away by the keeper.
This was more or less Cofie’s last contribution to the match, as, minutes after having a quick chat with the bench, he removed his shin pads and wandered to the bench being replaced by Callum McFadzean. The substitution, a mere 25 minutes in, was more of a precaution than anything with the striker still feeling and earlier whack he’d got to the hip.
McFadzean, making his third appearance of the week, took Stephen Quinn’s place on the wing with the Irishman moving further forward to partner Porter.
A few minutes later and focus switched to the right hand side of midfield, with right-back Tony McMahon receiving the ball from Doyle, cutting inside to his left foot and cleanly striking a curling effort into the top corner.
With the Blades in front, Kevin McDonald tried his luck from long range, but the shot looked to be heading wide from the moment he struck the ball. Working hard in his more advanced position, Stephen Quinn also had an effort from the edge of the box, but Roach again parried the shot away to safety.
There was just enough time remaining in the first half for Morecambe to head over the bar and as we entered the final couple of minutes, Callum McFadzean beat two men down the left, before finding Porter at the near post, who wasn’t far from making it two. The big striker made a point in wandering across and thank McFadzean for the cross and offer encouragement to the ever impressive youngster.
It was the same two again involved in creating the first chance of the second half, McFadzean putting Porter through on goal, this time the striker shot too close to the keeper who managed to get a hand to the ball.
Just after, Porter thought he’d grabbed the goal that had evaded him and had the ball in the back of the net, but the effort was ruled out with Hill providing the assist from an offside position.
Howard was called into action as the home side looked to get an equaliser, the communicative keeper scrambling along his line to push a low shot out for a corner when it looked to be heading for the bottom corner.
Westlake was to get even more minutes under his belt as he replaced Hill at left back, the new lad having played 90 minutes just two days earlier at Hallam FC.
Stephen Quinn had another attempt at beating Roach in the Morecambe goal, but the keeper was equal to his hard and low drive towards goal.
McAllister came on for Flynn as it looked like Wilson was wanting to switch things around and give others time on the pitch.
McMahon showed that he isn’t one to be pushed around, squaring up to Ellison and initially ignoring the referee’s request for the players to back off. After things had calmed down, the goalscorer passed the ball inside to Doyle, who set his sights and smashed an effort just wide of the post from 30 yards.
Continuing the changes, Philliskirk and Ironside came on from Porter and McMahon, before Matty Harriot replaced McDonald in the middle of the park.
The in form Ironside caused trouble straight away, linking up with Quinn he made his way towards the six-yard box before the keeper finally smothered the ball as the youngster tried to get a shot off.
He linked up again with Quinn, this time playing in McAllister who drove into the box before eventually being out-muscled.
Down the other end, a rare miscalculation from Collins meant his back pass stranded Howard and with the ball heading towards the empty goal from a Morecambe shot, Harry Maguire threw his body in the way with a cracking last ditch block.
As the clocked ticked towards 90 minutes, Quinn played a clever ball through to Ironside who powered away from the defence and beat the onrushing keeper to the ball, cleverly chipping over him into the back of the net. The youngster appeared to be about a yard offside when Quinn played the ball, but he finished well and can’t seem to stop scoring at the moment.
This was the last real action of the game, with the referee blowing for full time as Quinn and Doyle took a free kick awarded for a push on Ironside.
Image Gallery:
Morecambe: Roche, Reid, Doyle, Haining, Parrish, Alessandra, Drummond, Williams, Ellison, Carlton, Burrow
Substitutes: Wrught, McDonald, Redshaw, Short, McGee, Parkinson, Mwasile, Aristedou.
Sheffield United: Howard, McMahon (Ironside 75), Maguire, Collins, Hill (Westlake 55), Doyle, McDonald (Harriott 79), Flynn (McAllister 63), Quinn, Porter (Philliskirk 75), Cofie (McFazdean 25).
Unused Substitutes: Long, Cresswell.
2 Comments
A good report, thanks Foxy.
Thanks for report and pics. Liking the away strip and noted the bit about Howard being ‘communicative’, summat that Simmo lacks.