Sheffield United’s schedule of pre-season friendlies began this morning as a Blades XI welcomed Chesterfield to a sweltering Shirecliffe.

Wearing training tops rather than the new Adidas home strip, the Blades selected a side made up of mainly U18s for the friendly billed as a “Sheffield United XI”.

With the sun beating down, the game got off to a quiet start as was to be expected, with little action of note other than a good save from Blades keeper Ramsdale.

The opening twenty minutes or so passed without a clear cut chance being created for either side, but the visitors looking the more dangerous of the two.

It was the visitors who were to open the scoring with a great strike from the edge of the box beating Ramsdale.

Mindful of the fixture being a pre-season work out as well as the weather, the referee took the opportunity to give the players a drinks break.

The break appear to suit the Blades, who began causing Chesterfield problems having regrouped, but still went into half time a goal behind.

Travis Binnion shuffled the decks at half time, making 10 changes with only Ramsdale continuing into the second half.

Early into the second half, the Blades pulled level with Ioan Evans heading in at the back post from a corner.

United had started the half a lot better and looked well on top of the visitors, moving the ball around a lot quicker than in the opening 45 minutes.

Dan Cockerline came close to putting the Blades in front, but saw his header cleared of the line, before the referee called another drinks break.

Jonny Dallas managed to go one better a short time later, heading the Blades in front for the first time during the fixture.

Calvert-Lewin was replaced by Graham Kelly, taking Binnion’s changes up to 11 for the afternoon.

In front and on top, the Blades found time to add to the scoreline as Jason Paling’s shot was parried into the path of Dan Cockerline, who made no mistake in slotting home to secure the win.

Sheffield United 1st half: Ramsdale, Gordon, Adebowale, Cheeseman, Fixter, Reed, Ramsey, Hinchcliffe, Heh, Wright, Torres

Sheffield United 2nd half: Ramsdale, Evans, Moore, Paling, Coustrain, Giraud-Hutchinson, Calvert-Lewin (Kelly), Dallas, Kedman, Cockerline, Slew

Pre-Season continues as the Blades U21’s take on Sheffield FC at the Coach and Horses in Dronfield on Wednesday night, as always, we’ll be updating from the match on Twitter, so if you aren’t already, then follow us via: http://twitter.com/s24su for coverage.

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