Subbed On, Scored, Sent Off, Signed

Quite the day for Jamal Baptiste

Sheffield United U21 3 v Hull City U21 1

Professional Development League

Tuesday 5 November 2024

Played at York City

SUFC 2024/25 Game #27

Sheffield United Community Foundation U19 1 v Macclesfield U19 NWC 1

National Football Youth League, North West Championship 2

Wednesday 6 November 2024

Played at Handsworth

SUFC 2024/25 Game #28

Jamal Baptiste has had quite the day there. He came on as a Sub at 76 minutes. Slotted in to a back four as like-for-like for Right Back Jack Waldron. Certainly not height-for-height am-I-right? He was booked more-or-less immediately for some kerfuffle which might have been trying to block the oppo keeper's kick out and/or hauling down a Tiger as he chased the oppo keeper's kick out.

On 80 minutes Jamal got a great header to a Blades corner swung in by Sam Aston. That brought an instinctive push out save by the Hull keeper. He went even better on 89 minutes. Scoring United's third goal. A high hanging corner from the left. Great jump from Jamal, elonnnnngated hang time and a clean header. Not bad from Dovydas Sasnauskas either, Baptiste has had to take it off his forehead to get his own header in.

But, we're (/he's) not done yet. On 90 +1, Jamal puts in a strong, but clumsy, goes to ground, challenge on the halfway line. And picks up a - no one is complaining - second yellow. Off he trots. A mad fifteen minutes.

The Social Media teamsheet showed Jamal as “Trialist”. But the physical, meaningless bits of paper, teamsheet named him - Jamal Baptiste. The merry dance is usually ”Trialist” for unsigned players, named names for signed players. And, sure enough, by 5 O’clock, it'd been announced that we have now signed him. Trialist No More.

Quite the day for the young man.

Coby Hewitson in goal. With Luke Faxon on the first team bench at the moment. And Henry Molyneux traveling with the first team as - fuck me what if Michael Cooper trips up getting off the coach - third keeper.

A conventional back four. Jack Waldron, Dovydas Sasnauskas (armband), Evan Easton, Harry Boyes. In front of them. A bit unusual. Very attacking. Verging on 4-2-4 at times. Tom Davies and Blacker Billy anchoring. Jevan Beattie constantly up top. But Jay Tinsdale, Owen Hampson and Sam Aston pushing right up there to join him.

I thought that a little bit odd. Proper strikers Marshall Francis and Alfie Atherton left on the bench. And then an attacking formation packed with midfielders.

Tom Davies was presumably planned pulled on 72. Zain Tahir came on as a centre back. And Evan Easton was shuffled into midfield. I've not really got much to say about Tom D. Tidy and committed. Without many dominating stand out moments. Minutes rather than impact. He gave me a thumbs up as I shouted encouragement as he came off. I'm a bit of a FanBoy.

Alongside the Baptiste change on 76, Alfie Atherton replaced Jevan B. The story is as much about the Hat Trick Beattie could/should have had as the two he bagged.

Shirecliffe Graduate, Callum Yam was in goal for Hull. He fucked up royally on just 5 minutes. Passing the ball straight to Owen Hampson. He squared it to Beattie. Yam actually recovered well. And got a lot on Beattie’s shot. It looped up and a Hull defender retreating to the line couldn't keep it out.

The Young Tigers got back into the game a bit after that howler. Hewitson blocking a great chance with his feet more or less immediately. And Hull getting a good few shots off. United looking a bit sloppy at times.

Beattie got his second on 27. A cross field move ended wide left with Sam Aston. A great ball rolled across for a Beattie tap in. Two Nil. Half Time.

Beattie chased a poor back pass on 46. He was sort of hit by the clearance and the bounce off him looped just wide. Hat Trick missed #1.

Billy B gets a shot off in 48. Calum makes a good save. And then an even better one as Beattie can't put the rebound home. Hat Trick missed #2.

On 67 minutes, Jevan got a good header from a clever Tom Davies cross. Another good low save by Yam. Hat Trick missed #3. He's done on 76. A constant threat.

Hull City had pulled one back on 50. Sasnauskas gave it away, couldn't recover, a great ball across took Coby and the rest of the defence out of it. Simple tap in to make it 2-1 at that stage.

A deserved win. Still unbeaten in the league.

On the way home, I decided to go LNER to Doncaster and change there for Sheffield. Rather than “suffer” Cross Country Trains. Good decision Phil.

The Draughtsman Alehouse

Platform 3b

Doncaster Station

Thornbridge Brewery, Collab with The Kernel Brewery (London), Burton Ale on Cask at 5.5%

I Blogged recently about Thornbridge Brewery rescuing a Burton Union Set. A chemistry set collection of pipes and barrels historically used to brew beer in Burton. This dark thick ale was brewed on that kit in collaboration with The Kernel. Sounds promising, eh?

A big liquorice hit. Bitter on the tongue. With maltiness coming later. All the different tastes stay with you for a long time. Drinks thick, without being chewy. A beer for all the ages.

A lively and entertaining draw for the College U19s up at Handsworth. Macclesfield opened on just four minutes. Our equaliser on 13.

But, otherwise, a sad day up at Handsworth for the Carrier Bag Firm. We're increasingly convinced that our Go-To-Grub at Darnell Fisheries has closed “for good”.

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