2007/2008 Season. Pre-season friendly no. 3
Tuesday, July 17th, 2007
ALFRETON TOWN 0, Sheffield United 2

Report by Gordon Foster (Mansfield CHAD). Pics by Phil Lucic.

CHAMPIONSHIP giants Sheffield United capitalised on two giveaway goals which provided the only down side to another encouraging display by Nicky Law’s new look Alfreton Town at the Impact Arena on Tuesday night.
The Reds undeservedly fell behind on the stroke of half time to a deflected Ian Ross goal after more than holding their own against a very strong Blades line-up.
Then 12 minutes into the second half Kyle McFadzean marred an otherwise impressive personal showing when he made a hash of dealing with a right wing cross to give half time substitute Jordan Robertson an easy second goal.
Boss Law found much to be encouraged about and also a couple of lessons to take on board.
He said: “It was a quite encouraging performance. In the first half we did really well, especially considering the quality of the opposition, and it was disappointing to give a goal away right at the end.
“But it was given away. We didn’t close their lad down, and he was allowed a free shot which took a deflection and finished up in the net.
“They got to the pace of the game a lot quicker than we did in the second half, which you would expect, but when we came into it we got the ball down well, passed it around, and when we did so we looked good.
“But we made a lot of changes to give everyone a bit of action.
“It was a pity that Kyle tried to be too clever. He will be remembered for that one mistake rather than the 70 minutes when he was magnificent and didn’t give Geoff Horsfield a kick.
“We all make mistakes but the best players learn from them and that’s what he has to do.
“But 2-0 against opposition of that qulaity provided some real positives as well as indentifying a few points that need to be improved on.
“Chris Walton and Anton Brown were magnificent in midfield, Terry Henshaw did well at right back, and Andy White showed how much he was missed when he came off, although Brian Cusworth also did well when he replaced him.
“One of the United staff told me at half time that we had played really well and that they hadn’t been able to get near us. That’s quite something when someone from a Championship club tells you that.”
New Blades boss Bryan Robson described Alfreton as a big, strong side who gave his team a tough challenge, adding that the Reds had some good headers of the ball which gave Matt Kilgannon and Lee Bromby plenty to think about.
Scott Rickards, whose goals helped keep Redditch in the Conference North last season, was prominent in the seventh minute with a volley that flew just wide after a dream of a pass from Mark Barnard - but it would have been ruled out by a very late offside flag.
Nathan Winder got in a good header to deny the lively Michael Tonge two minutes later, and then Luton Shelton forced James Lindley to turn his shot around the post.
Alfreton did have the ball in Blades’ trialist and Trinidad international Jan-Michael Williams’ goal in the 19th minute. White charged in on the keeper who dropped the ball over the line as the two looked to meet another astute cross by Barnard. Half a century ago it might have counted, but not these days!
The game threatened to explode momentarily shortly afterwards when Winder went in heavily on Tonge, which would certainly have merited a booking in a league match.
McFadzean did well to clear a dangerous cross from Luton Shelton off the line, but Rickards showed his prowess on the half-hour with a screamer from a very tight angle which was only marginally too high.
Then, as the half entered stoppage time, Alfreton undeservedly fell behind. Ian Ross was allowed time and space to pull the trigger from 25 yards, and the ball took a deflection on its way into the net to wrong-foot Lindley.
Highly-rated ex-Woodley Sports duo Russell Headley and Daniel Douglas-Pringle, who were unable to take their place in the starting line-up having been caught in the aftermath of a serious road accident on the M1, made their appearance in the second half, as did United’s Robertson for Stephen Quinn, who suffered a twisted ankle just before the break.
The Blades, relegated in controversial circumstances from the Premiership, began the half the more enterprisingly but without seriously troubling Lindley, and it was Alfreton who created the first chance of note in the 56th minute when the stretching Rickards could not quite manage a touch on Brown’s spearing through ball in front of goal.
However, two minutes later former England skipper Robson’s team doubled their lead. Instead of heading a right wing cross clear, McFadzean tried to chest it down, the ball went upwards instead, and fell kindly for Robertson who was left with a simple finish.
With that, and Law ringing the changes, the visitors began to call the tune increasingly, Shelton’s blistering pace causing a few problems.
Barnard did well to clear following good work by Blades debutant Gary Naysmith, a close season signing from Everton.
But Barnard was withdrawn soon afterwards having suffered an ankle injury, and was replaced by David Cockerill, one of three substitutions made at the same time.
Within three minutes of his introduction Cockerill almost set up an Alfreton goal. His long, raking pass from the left picked out Cusworth who tried a delicate flick, which had Williams stretching to claw away for a corner.
And Tommy Hannigan was a whisker away from making a telling headed connection onto the ensuing flag kick.
Thereafter it was the Blades who came closer to adding a further goal.
Twice Shelton embarked on surging runs, at the end of which one shot hit the side netting and the other was brilliantly tipped over by Lindley.
ALFRETON: Lindley, Brown, Barnard (Cockerill 72), McFadzean (Wilson 72), Winder (Hannigan 72), Henshaw (Headley ht), Glass (Douglas-Pringle ht), Walton, White (Cusworth 55), Rickards (Copnell 61), Bowler (Nangle 75).
SHEFFIELD UNITED: Williams, Doumbe, Bromby, Kilgannon, Naysmith, Ross (Kerry 64), Tonge (Naughton 81), Quinn (Robertson ht), Leigertwood, Horsfield, Shelton.
REFEREE: Paul Thompson of Chesterfield.
ATTENDANCE: 797.