During a period of time that has been extremely emotional for everyone involved with the women's team (and the club as a whole) Saturday was the perfect tribute to a player that has symbolised Sheffield United so much over the course of the past half decade. A battling, determined and skilful second half saw United run away with the three points against a London City team that finished in the top three last season. It was a performance that would have made Maddy proud, and you couldn't ask anything more of the team than that.
Before the game got started, there was a moving and excellently observed tribute to our no.8 Maddy Cusack with a fantastically made video showing how much of a fantastic player and person she was for the club. There was one change from our last home game against Lewes with Ella Kinzett coming into the starting XI for Sophie Haywood who took a place on the bench. A couple of decent chances within the first five minutes saw both teams go close to opening the scoring. A long, raking ball from London City almost saw a centre forward played in one on one with Stenson, however, our big keeper was out quickly to sniff out the danger. Up the other end and United should have opened the scoring. Hutton laid on superb, dinked pass over the London City defence that saw Isobel Goodwin through with only the keeper to beat. Izzy lifted the ball over the keeper... and her effort just drifted wide of the post! An unlucky effort for our no.10 who, once again, had a superb outing in red and white, more on her later. Following a round of applause for Maddy in the 8th minute, United went close from distance. Sophie Barker was first to a bobbling ball that she sent arrowing over the bar. The game became a bit of a stalemate after this with both teams probing for the opener. That goal would come just before the half hour mark and it would come for the visitors. A corner was whipped in and Boye-Hlorkah was quickest to react with a snapshot that caught everyone unawares and settled into the back of the Kop net. United had the chance for an instant repsonse after some good interplay saw the ball drop to Ash Hodson just outside the six yard box. The ex-Liverpool midfielder snatched at the opportunity and sent the ball flying over the crossbar. Tara Bourne would be the next United player to go close to equalising with the ex-Man United player getting on the end of a Sophie Barker corner, completely unmarked, with her header too close to the London City keeper. Just before the break, London City were unlucky not to double their lead with Fran Stenson pulling off a cracking save to deny Lois Joel's thunderbolt effort from distance. That was that for the first period with United looking to pull off a comeback in the second half. That's exactly what we got! United came out of the second half break flying. Jodie Hutton went close twice in the opening exchanges with an effort from range just narrowly going wide of the post and another effort, after good team interplay, seeing an effort fly over the bar. The good start to the half would be rewarded just after the 50 minute mark thanks to our no.10 Isobel Goodwin! A curling corner from Hutton was nodded home by our centre forward for her second goal at The Lane in as many games. It was a deserved goal for United and especially for Izzy who would go close again after being played in by Kinzett. Cutting in on the left, Izzy's effort was just wide of the post as United looked to hammer home our good start to the half. Goodwin was involved again as she looked to turn provider for Hodson who struck a fantastic half volley that looped narrowly over the bar. Hodson would not be denied much longer in getting her first Blades goal with Ash and Izzy combining again to see our new midfielder turn a defender and scoop home to double our lead! United continued to look to add to the lead with Isobel Goodwin a constant menace up top. She was absolutely everywhere on Saturday, be it holding up the ball and waiting for support. Winning knock on after knock on or, very pertinently indeed, bursting past her marker and bearing down on goal. With just the keeper to beat, Izzy was about to fire home for her second when she was brought down in the box by Brougham with the ref pointing to the spot and sending the London City defender off. Izzy dusted herself down and duly sent the keeper the wrong way to double her tally for the day and send the 1,100+ at The Lane into raptures. Despite ten minutes left of the contest left, alongside 9 minutes added on at the end, United saw the game out with ease as we secured a second consecutive home win on an emotional day for everyone involved with the club. A super, super, second half performance on Saturday. In the first half, we did create chance but looked a little bit rusty at times with our passing a little bit loose. The second half was fantastic however, and we looked very good indeed against stern competition in an ambitious London City outfit. Rachel Brown was superb, as always, at wing back with a fantastic defensive performance on the flank. Bex was Bex in the middle and looked constantly busy with some very nice tricks and flicks. But, above all, Isobel Goodwin had a hell of a day up front. As mentioned elsewhere, she was everywhere on Saturday and did a little bit of everything. She could have had four goals on the day and could have had more than the one assist she did get. She looks very comfortable leading the line and is a constant menace to every defence she's faced so far this season. She's now got three goals in five games and looks like she will be the long term solution to replacing CSK's goals of the past two seasons. Izzy has a very big future in the game, hopefully she'll spend a lot of her future in a red and white shirt. Overall, a very good day indeed! We return to The Lane this coming Sunday with Birmingham City the visitors after a brief sojourn to Alfreton for Conti Cup action on Wednesday. Get on down to The Lane if you can! Until next time, UTB.
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AuthorHi my name is John and i will be giving my thoughts on the blades matches and all blades related news in this section Archives
November 2022
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