My son attended and compiled a report...
Chip off the old block?!
SUFC VS SWFC (U21)
14/10/2024
Pre Match:
Lineups as follows
SUFC
1. Faxon (GK)
2. Seriki
3. McCallum
4. Coulibaly
5. Robinson (c)
6. Sasnauskas
7. Waldron
8. Easton
9. Marsh
10. Blacker
11. Tinsdale
Subs: Molyneux (GK), Tahir, Trialist, Francis, Havenhand
Notable Appearances:
First Team captain Jack Robinson comes into the side with Sam McCallum who started the last SUFC league game also joining him. Kurtis Havenhand sees himself in the lineup for the first time in 18 months. Regulars Ryan Oné and Owen Hampson both unavailable due to international call ups. Sai Sachdev and Sam Aston also miss out having sustained injuries in the games prior.
SWFC
1. Barrett (GK)
2. Siqueira
3. Reed
4. Emery
5. Weaver
6. Thornton
7. Fernandes
8. Fusire
9. Buchanan
10. Johnson
11. Moses
Subs: Phillips (GK), Trialist, Kakay, Weston, Phuthi
Notable Appearances:
No Pierce Charles (brother of Shea, fellow first teamer) due to international call up.
Ahead of kickoff a minute silence was observed in memory of former Sheffield United player George Baldock, who sadly passed away during the week prior to this game.
Kickoff
4’ an even game so far, being played in the sheffield united half for the most part, with the home side dominating possession.
10’ United appearing the stronger of the two dominant in possession still, no shot from either side yet though.
12’ McCallum tries and succeeds with a 45yd lofted through ball, which is brought down by Blacker, who finds seriki who is stopped in his tracks by an elegant sliding challenge.
15’ A low but threatening Seriki cross is sliced away but eventually cleared.
17’ Incredible double save from Faxon, first denying a back heel flick and then a header directed straight at him.
20’ Fernandes denied by a great tackle from behind after racing through on goal.
22’ A dangerous Seriki cross is caught by the Wednesday number 1.
25’ Wednesday looking dominant now as they slowly encroach further into the Blades’ half on every attack.
27’ Blacker wins a free kick just inside the wednesday half.
32’ Blades starting to enforce pressure as Marsh has a penalty shout waved away and Seriki wins a corner.
34’ Faxon can only find Fusire from his clearance under pressure, who races through to the six yard box before horrendously blazing wide from point blank range.
35’ More calamitous defending as Thornton blazes an unmarked volley into the cherry street corner from 15 yards out.
36’ Fusire causing the Blades trouble again and he gets through and can only drag a tame shot into Faxon’s welcome arms.
39’ Great footwork from Marsh sees him dance around the Wednesday midfield before playing an inch perfect ball to Waldron, who sees his cross cleared for a throw.
40’ An extremely late and dangerous Coulibaly tackles earns him a yellow card and gifts the visitors a free kick. Wednesday technical area plagued with angry arms thrusted towards the referee.
42’ Shoreham youth in full voice as the game gets rowdy with sliding challenges a plenty.
43’ A blades free kick taken by Tinsdale finds the head of Robinson who can only direct straight at the Wednesday stopper. Chants of ‘We’ve had a shot’ ring out as the home side finally have an effort on target.
45’ Half Time, and nothing to write home about for either side, but Wednesday looking the more dominant of the two.
HT team information: My inside sources tell me that the Trialist on the bench for Sheffield United is 20 year old Defender Jamal Baptiste, who is currently on the books of Everton.
46’ The second half is underway
50’ Wednesday in a 4 on 2 wasted the breakaway as Johnson drives straight at Faxon and it wasn’t followed in.
51’ Seriki slips whilst collecting the ball for a throw in.
52’ Aggressive sliding tackle by weaver
prevents Seriki from racing away
53’ A GOAL! And finally the blades take the lead as Tinsdale crosses and Blacker perfects his hold up play to lay off Marsh who tucks it into the bottom right corner. 1-0 to the home side.
56’ The home support find their voice again as Sheffield United chants of all shapes and sizes ripple down the concourse.
58’ Waldron wins a corner after chasing the ball down the right wing. The following corner bounces around and finds the feet of Easton, who drives a low shot wide of the left post.
60’ PENALTY BLADES! Seriki dashes forward, skins two Wednesday defenders and is tugged back by his shirt, leaving him no choice but to go down.
61’ GOAL! 2-0 Blades as Marsh puts it into the bottom right hand corner once again, past the Wednesday keeper who goes the right way.
62’ Substitution for Wednesday, as Fusire makes way for Phuthi.
62’ Substitution Blades, Jack Robinson makes way for Zain Tahir.
65’ Seriki causing problems for the Owls’ left hand side again, winning a corner.
70’ A hefty aerial challenge sees Marsh in his back and the Blades awarded a free kick.
71’ An outstanding solo run by Phuthi sees him dart into the box but fails to capitalise on the chance to score.
75’ Waldron nearly finds an onrushing Coulibaly who would have been one on one with the Owls’ keeper.
76’ Substitutions for the Blades, Seriki and McCallum make way for Trialist and Francis
76’ Substitution for Wednesday, Kakay comes on
78’ McCallum receives an array of applause from the home supporters.
81’ 2-1 GAME ON! The Owls’ capitalise on a Goalkeeping error that results in Faxon off his line, and
Moses tucks into an empty net.
83’ We’re in for a tight finish here, as Wednesday are really piling the pressure on now.
84’ United Substitution, Coulibaly makes way for Havenhand, who returns to a football pitch for the first time in 18 months.
88’ Cynical foul by one of the Wednesday players, not sure who, but they see yellow for a tug of the shirt.
89’ Free Kick conceded by United as the seconds tick away. Blades Youth in full voice in the south stand now.
90’ Another Yellow card, this time for Waldron as Wednesday have a free kick on the left wing 25 yards from goal. Seconds left here as were past the 90 minute mark.
90’ The blades clear but Wednesday still throwing the kitchen sink at it here.
90’ Faxon holds onto a flick on header from a throw in and the Blades nearly have the win now.
90’ One last throw in for the visitors here.
90’ Blades now where they like it, in a corner at the other end of the pitch.
90’ Yellow card for Tahir for preventing a quick break with a professional foul.
90’ Havenhand has a go from 60 yards but sees it fly wide.
90’ About 7 minutes after the 90 now. No one knows how long he’s added on.
FULL TIME - 2-1 Blades, and arguably the better side came away with the win
Post Match Player Ratings
SUFC
1. Faxon (GK) - 6.5
2. Seriki - 8.0
3. McCallum - 7.0
4. Coulibaly - 5.0
5. Robinson (c) - 5.5
6. Sasnauskas - 6.0
7. Waldron - 6.5
8. Easton - 6.0
9. Marsh - 8.0
10. Blacker - 6.5
11. Tinsdale - 6.5
Tahir - 6.0
Trialist - 5.5
Francis - 5.5
Havenhand - 6.0
SWFC
1. Barrett (GK) - 5.0
2. Siqueira - 6.0
3. Reed - 5.5
4. Emery - 5.5
5. Weaver - 5.5
6. Thornton - 6.0
7. Fernandes - 7.0
8. Fusire - 7.5
9. Buchanan - 6.0
10. Johnson - 6.5
11. Moses - 6.5
Kakay - 6.5
Phuthi - 7.0
Man of the Match - Femi Seriki
Looked dangerous going forward causing the left hand side of Wednesday’s defence all sorts of trouble, putting in numerous crosses and eventually winning a penalty that was converted by Louie Marsh.
