Peterborough United (U21) 3-4 Sheffield United (U21s)

Peterborough United (U21) 3-4 Sheffield United (U21s)

Professional Development League

Tuesday 28th February 2023

This was a win - albeit not a particularly memorable one for Sheffield United’s U21s as they made harder work than it should have been to see off Peterborough United.

On a poor pitch that cut up quite badly from the early stages and must have been horrible to play on, plus the fact it was cold, it was a very scrappy contest. There were lots of snippets of individuals’ technical awareness, some bits of good football and clever play a few times, but the rhythm and intensity was just never there for much of the afternoon.

Four different players got on the score-sheet; Owen Hampson solidified the impression I’ve already got of him with another good display and he got the opener, Louie Marsh fired home his 17th of the season, Sydie Peck bagged the pick of the goals and Antwoine Hackford, back enjoying his football again, added the last one with a finish from a couple of yards out.

Even though the Blades might be considered as ‘Galacticos’ at U21s level, whenever I’ve watched them against Peterborough in the past, matches have always tended to be quite tight and this one was no different.

The first half saw them have more of the ball and Louie Marsh went close with a curling strike early on that had to be palmed away by Posh ‘keeper Will Lakin, but Peterborough gave as good as they got, competed well and couldn’t be faulted for how they battled - even if they did use ‘shit house’ tactics in one instance when Luke Harris pulled back Sydie Peck just as he was about to break through the middle from the centre circle and cause problems. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do sometimes but it wasn’t a surprise that Harris got booked for the offence!

Callum Yam pulled off a decent save just past the half-hour - coming right to the edge of his area to smother a shot (followed by a few screams for handall - steady on lads), but just when it seemed it might be 0-0 at the break, Owen Hampson pounced on a sloppy pass out from the back by the Peterborough ‘keeper, shared a quick one-two with Marsh, and unselfishly received the ball back for a straightforward finish to put the Blades ahead.

With Barry Fry getting his 10,000 steps in for the day by doing laps of the pitch (now you see him, now you don’t), everything then unraveled in a five-minute spell just after half-time.

Peterborough equalised when Kai Corbett’s corner towards the back-post ricocheted off Hampson and into the net (unfortunate but just one of them things), however, it wasn’t 1-1 for very long because within 60 seconds Peterborough were caught out at the other end when Jili Buyabu pressed high to win possession and squared a pass to Marsh who hammered a first-time shot past an advancing ‘keeper to make it 2-1.

Another minute passed before Sydie Peck gave a great example of what he’s about; winning possession with his back to goal just inside the hosts’ half, spinning away from his man within the blink of an eye - whoosh, and accelerating towards the edge of the box where his effort caught a deflection and went in (still Sydie’s goal though).

Soon enough, young Mr Peck had the perfect chance to make it 4-1 after Antwoine Hackford got in-behind and was pulled to the floor inside the box in one of those situations where you just knew the defender would make contact. A definite penalty, only this time, the ‘keeper guessed correctly and dived low to his left to make a save from Peck’s effort albeit Marsh reacted quickest to the loose ball and played it across the face of goal for his second assist of the game as Hackford was waiting to tap home at the near-post.

With half-an-hour still to go and victory all but in the bag at this point, a little bit of a bad arrogance subconsciously crept into the Blades’ play - something that needs to be learned from because it could have proved costly.

Intensity levels dropped ever so slightly (it felt noticeable) and Peterborough pulled a goal back to make it 4-2 when a cross into the box from the right flank by Corbett reached Emmanuel Fernandez who was given enough time to bring the ball down, control it and put it into the net via a deflection off Connor Barratt. It was definitely a preventable goal because Fernandez shouldn’t have been allowed that much time to do what he did.

The Blades still could have scored again as a rasping 25-yard drive from Josh Smith looked destined for the top corner - only for the ‘keeper to get the slightest of touches and deny him what would have been a spectacular goal, whilst Louie Marsh squandered a later chance when he smashed a shot wide after the ball dropped to him in a great position.

In the 91st minute, it was ‘cat amongst the pigeons time’ because Peterborough pulled a goal back with Corbett’s flick setting Joel Randall clear down the left flank and he finished well - and there were more nervous moments followed after that with the Blades having to defend a set-piece from Charlie O’Connell followed by a Corbett corner, which was cleared just far enough outside the area for the referee to blow the whistle.

Overall, it was a scrappy game. The pitch affected things and made life difficult. The temperatures (even for this time of year) made me realise I still need to wear a coat, and there were a few others lessons to be learned in terms of ‘game-management’ - right from the point of going 4-1 up through to the latter stages and the two set-pieces that had to be defended at 4-3. Had Peterborough equalised and snatched a point, I suspect that Micky Collins might have gone apoplectic and, not only that, it would have also been a very quiet bus journey home.

Nevertheless, it’s three points and another win achieved on course to what is hopefully going to be another successful season at U21s level.

Deserved mentions for Owen Hampson (good player), Sydie Peck (quality movement for his goal - loved seeing that, and the one in the first half where he might have done the same but got pulled back) and on a better pitch, he could have properly caused mayhem. Louie Marsh’s two assists were really good - the first totally unselfish and the second being a prime example of what happens when you react quickest to a penalty being saved. Both decent. And also for Josh Smith who came on and would have scored if the ‘keeper hadn’t decided to pull off a ‘worldie’ and get the slightest of touches to tip the ball over.

Peterborough do have some good players. 

I’ve seen Kai Corbett do well at this level previously and be the best player on the pitch and, although he was quiet at times in passages of open play - partly due to Sheffield United having more of the ball (and the pitch), some of his work didn’t go unnoticed, his set-pieces were consistent and he’ll be buzzing off three assists - and it all makes up for a little incident in the first half where I thought him and Emmanuel Fernandez were about to fall out. Emmanuel Fernandez himself was big, strong, is very recognisable given his height and, bar a shank straight out of play in the second half, I thought he had an alright game. He’s got bits to improve but has the makings of an okay defender. And Charlie O’Connell who has progressed right the way through the academy to skipper this team is someone I know a reasonable amount about already and he’ll have improved as a player after his little stint at Woking recently.

Peterborough United: Will Lakin, Ben Mensah, Aaron Powell, Luke Harris, Charlie O'Connell (C), Emmanuel Fernandez, Kai Corbett, Roddy McGlinchley, Lewis Darlington, Joel Randall, Oscar Tonge. Subs: Hisham Chiha, Jake West, Mackenzie Lamb, Ashton Fox, Reuben Marshall.

Sheffield United: Callum Yam, Joe Starbuck, Jili Buyabu, Levis Pitan, Connor Barratt, Luther Williams, Sydie Peck (C), Oliver Arblaster, Antwoine Hackford, Louie Marsh, Owen Hampson. Subs: Tom Angell, Henry Hampshaw, Jack Waldron, George Dickinson, Josh Smith.