One Returning And Two Trialists
But they forgot the Trakkie
Barnsley U21 1 v Sheffield United U21 1
Professional Development League
Friday 25 October 2024
Played at the Oakwell Training Ground
SUFC 2024/25 Game #24
Fair warning. The Carrier Bag Firm did a Double Header in the Barnsley Environs today. I won't go into the Beer on this Blog. I'll cover that on the next Blog on the way to Athersley Recreation.
A get out jail draw for the Young Blades. Who I thought were basically second best most of the game. Of course, that means we remain unbeaten this season.
Coby Hewitson in goal. A back three in front of him. Dovydas Sasnauskas in the middle of a three. How many trials are you allowed by the rules - Jamil Baptiste - on his right. Zain Tahir left. Jack Waldron wide right. Harry Boyes left. Rather fluid in midfield accommodating the returning from injury Tom Davies. He was on the right sometimes, quarterback at other times. Billy Blacker and Owen Hampson across that midfield three. Marshall Francis as a deffo striker. Jay Tinsdale up there as well, and a Ten at times.
Tom Davies did OK. Not afraid to be in the physical battle. Wrestling at defensive corners. Chasing the odd lost cause to try and win a corner or throw. Late sprints into the box in the hope of a cross. Nice and neat in the hold, turn and lay offs. Looked sharp enough. Didn't seem to be blowing. But, didn't really stamp any authority on the show.
He was canned at HT. That was planned - obvs. But he had to make the long walk across to the main Oakwell Stadium to get a Trakkie to keep him warm as he returned to the bench in the fog, mist and miserable conditions in Barnsley.
There was a Half Time reshuffle (one down at that stage). Tom D and Zain Tahir replaced by Sam Aston and Alfie Atherton. United went four at the back. With Jamil Baptiste going from the right of a three to the left of a two. He was tidy enough in both roles. We weren't particularly bad defensively. We just couldn't get owt going in front of them in the first half. No cohesion in midfield. And not much of a threat up top.
We looked particularly ineffective down the right hand side - Waldron and Tinsdale.
We conceded on 20. The bench were convinced Jack Waldron was fouled. But Reffo has waved play on. With Jack scrabbling on the deck. That meant Barnsley could break, down Baptiste's side as it happens. A cross from the left, takes a touch, cool finish.
As I say, United seemed a bit smothered in midfield. And could/should have conceded on 39. Barnsley pumped a free kick in from their left. Coby H had a bead on it, shouted confidently, to take it high around the penalty spot. Miiiiiiine. Nowhere fucking near it. Clean header hit the post as everyone scrambled for it and it was cleared off the line. The Reds hit the post again just before the HT whistle.
We did look a good bit better in the first shift of the second half, after the reshuffle. Essentially we had more bodies, and were tighter, in midfield. Atherton was more mobile up top, more of an outlet, more of a threat. Indeed, that ramped up further when Jevan Beattie came on for Francis on 65.
Boyes had a great central free kick pushed wide on 78. But Barnsley hit the post … again … just after that.
Inevitably, a great Beattie battering ram header on 83, inevitably. For a superb equaliser. Still time for Trialist B to sub on for the last five. Lennon Patterson. From Wolverhampton Wanderers system. Big lad. Still 17. But going on 23 to look at. Came on for Tinsdale. And buzzed around a bit.
A good draw for us in the end.
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