Worksop Town Under 19s 2-2 Sheffield United Under 19s
Tigers Pegged Back At The Death
Worksop took the lead just before halftime thanks to a penalty from Luke Smith. United equalised early into the second period. The Tigers again retook the lead through Harry Dunbar however in injury time, Greaves netted to take a share of the points.
This was the Tigers’ first game since the 25th of January due to the recent bad spell of weather we’ve endured. You could tell it’s had its effect as it took a bit of time for the home side to settle back into routine. They opened the chances on the 15th minute mark. Igor Mlynarski took aim around 30 yards away from goal. The shot clipped the shoulder of Harrison Neal and flew just wide of the top right-hand corner.
Soon after, The Blades had an attack of their own. Jake Kelly skipped past several challenges before squaring the ball across the box where, luckily for the Tigers, Christian Beaumont was on hand to sweep up the danger.
Moments later, Town had another good opportunity to get their noses in front. Mlynarski played a ‘give and go’ with Carpenter before running past the centre-back. As he shot though, the keeper flew out and blocked the effort with his feet.
Town had their best chance of the game on the half hour mark. A deep free-kick was flicked over the keeper by Harry Dunbar. With the ball heading into an empty net, Jean Bellhovan raced back to clear it off the line.
The first half was mainly dominated by the Tigers. Smith held the ball up in the middle of the park before laying the ball off to Crook who curled his shot just wide of the post.
With five minutes of the half remaining, the Tigers were awarded a penalty. Harry Dunbar was impeded in the box after Mlynarski struck the post with a teasing cross towards the back stick. Luke Smith stepped up and fired his penalty straight down the middle.
The halftime whistle sounded giving both managers a change of team talk after a late goal in the half.
The second half started with chances for each team. The Tigers advanced forward straight from the restart. Mlynarski tried his luck from 25 yards out but unfortunately, he dragged his shot wide. The
Blades countered straight away with Stainford who cut the ball back to Kelly on the edge of the area who sliced it wide.
Sheffield United equalised six minutes after the break. Angelo Capello cut inside from the right, ran along the edge of the box into the centre before seeing his effort deflect off Blythe and nestle into the bottom corner.
Worksop were in the hunt for another goal to put them ahead again in the fixture. They went close to doing so minutes later. Nicholls rode the challenge of Kyron Gordon and passed the ball to Carpenter who used his strength to hold off his marker. Carpenter quickly turned and shot goal-wards however Joe Dunn caught the attempt.
Sheffield United were utilising the pace that they had in their locker. They were in on goal once again on the hour mark. Stainford burst past Nicholls and sent in a low driven cross towards the centre. Fielding got down quickly to intercept what was sure to be an easy tap in for United.
The Blades looked the more likely to net at this point in the game after a good fifteen minute spell. United countered from a Tigers set-piece. Etia was slotted through on goal by Stainford, he shot first time but the number nine dragged his shot across the face of goal and wide.
Worksop Town got their noses back in front with twenty minutes to go. A throw-in from Wooton was flicked on by Luke Smith into the path of Harry Dunbar who neatly tucked his shot past the keeper.
Debutant Chad Wooton almost got himself on the scoresheet. His mazy run nearly ended with his cross heading towards the back-stick sneaking in however it landed the wrong side of the post.
It was heartbreak for the hosts as United equalised in injury time to nick a share of the points. Jake Kelly accelerated down the left wing before sending in a bobbly cross towards the centre. Fielding made an uncharacteristic error allowing Clark Greaves to rifle his shot into the net.
The referee blew for full-time moments after the leveller leaving the Tigers disheartened however in hindsight, four points from a possible six from the Blades is still a good achievement.
Attendance: 56
Goals: Smith (41’), Dunbar (70’); Capello (51’), Greaves (90+3’)
WTFC: Callum Fielding, Christian Beaumont (Owen Stead), Niall Blakemore, Jack Crook, Alex Boyd (Peter Nicholls), Ben Cook, Igor Mlynarski (Chad Wooton), Blake Blythe, Josh Carpenter, Luke Smith, Harry Dunbar (Mitch Batty)
Unused Sub: Jake Woodward
SUFC: Joe Dunn, Tinashe Buute, Jake Stevens, Harrison Neal, Jean Bellhovan, Kyron Gordon, Jake Kelly, Jack Stainford, Jacques Etia, Sam Oefron, Angelo Capello
Subs: Clark Greaves, Sam Kelly, Javelle Clark, Harrison Foulstone.
Reaction from Jay Bownes
What are your thoughts with how the game panned out after a late equaliser from United?
It is our first game back after a two month absence so we looked a little bit rusty in the first half, our positional play was poor and our work rate wasn’t good enough. We had a conversation at halftime and the lads came out in the second period and did exactly what we told them to do. I just feel like we need to be more savvy and more intelligent with how we manage the game. Sometimes in situations you’ve just got to get the ball and just turn the opposition to give yourself a breather but also put a bit of pressure on them. With twenty-five minutes to go we’re still trying to play in our own area and half when really we can just turn them and ease the pressure off a little bit. Although if someone offered me four points off Sheffield United then I’d of snapped their hand off so overall I’m happy with their performance.
After, like you have previously mentioned, many months without a game. How relieved are you to finally be back underway with a run of games?
Yeah it feels a bit alien after just playing and not managing due to the games being called off. It’s a different feeling from playing and I’ve missed it. To bring so many different faces in and a new lineup and for us to have done as well as we have, I couldn’t of asked for much more. The break hasn’t done us any favours but now we’ll get a good run of five or so games to finish the season strong.
Cook, Wooton and Nicholls all made their debuts tonight from the under 16s. What were your thoughts on how they conducted themselves?
Cook has only just turned seventeen, you’ve got Chad at right back who’s just turned sixteen and also Pete who’s turned sixteen. The futures bright for us and we’ve got a good coup of youngsters for us to pick from but that’s the idea. We’ve sent some of our players to the first team, we’ve brought some in and it’s a conveyer belt our talent for Worksop Town and it’s what We’re here to do. It’s not all
about winning matches, obviously it’s nice when we do but it’s about developing players for the future and for the Tigers first team hopefully.
about winning matches, obviously it’s nice when we do but it’s about developing players for the future and for the Tigers first team hopefully.
Are you still very much in contention for the title?
Today we got a point which is the least we needed. If we’d of lost we would have been wrote off but if we win all our games in hand then we go one point behind Sheffield United so yeah we are very much in it. In perspective, Sheffield United beat Swallownest 15-2 last week and beat Alfreton 6-0 so today’s result is a good result. And I fully expect us to be either first or second at the end of the season.
Having said that, is Alfreton next week the biggest task so far?
It is as Alfreton seem to always bring their A game and their best side when playing against Worksop Town. We’ve got enough in the tank, we’ve got players coming back from injury and new faces so the squad will be ample to get a result next week…we owe them one really.
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