Sheffield United (U21s) 7-1 Colchester United (U21s)

Sheffield United (U21s) 7-1 Colchester United (U21s)

Professional Development League

Tuesday 2nd May 2023

Oh what an afternoon!

If watching Scunthorpe's U18s smash Rotherham in their final game together just a couple of hours earlier wasn't good (and emotional) enough, this game was arguably even better as Sheffield United's U21s produced a top quality performance to batter Colchester United.

On a day when the Blades were ruthless and presented with the Professional Development League (North) championship trophy post-match, Louie Marsh and Will Osula shone and both got hat-tricks, Oliver Arblaster pulling the strings behind them in midfield, Fernando Macedo came on, made an immediate impact and scored within a minute to send his mum wild in the stands (some celebration) whilst Sydie Peck was running round like the angriest man alive - desperate to get on the ball, make things happen and showing zero mercy to Colchester whatsoever.

There were some top quality players on show, some top quality finishes and incredible characteristics and it was a brilliant performance which makes you just go 'wow' at how good these lads are and what they're all about.

As said, the Blades are top of the PDL and have been top pretty much all season. They're a country mile clear of the chasing pack, they've scored the most goals, conceded the fewest and are the 'Galacticos' at this level with incredible depth and quality.

And on such a superb afternoon, it took Louie Marsh (wearing his grip socks) just 17 minutes to finally grab the 20th goal of the season that he's been chasing for a couple of weeks as he did well to get onto Will Osula's ball in towards the near-post, spin instinctively away from his man and bury his effort into the back of the net at the first time of asking.

Neat. Nimble. No wonder I draw the similarities between him and Aaron Collins all the time!

If that wasn't good enough, Marshy soon went and bagged his second for the afternoon as he got possession on the edge of the box, twisted and turned in exactly the same style as previously and executed a sumptuous curling strike into the top corner to leave those watching on clapping and nodding in admiration. Some technique! Some finish! And credit too for Jili Buyabu (man like Jili Buyabu has a quality season) as he did excellently to recycle Sai Sachdev's initial cross during the build up.

Some of the link-up play and movement involving Will Osula and Louie Marsh was phenomenal at times. Colchester just couldn't live with it and on 32 minutes, the devastating duo combined again for Marshy's hat-trick goal; Osula initially finding him inside the 'D' on the edge of the box, Marshy then knocking it out wide to Sai Sachdev before continuing his run to the near-post anticipating the subsequent cross in which he tucked away in style for such a classy goal.

A first half hat-trick! Louie Marsh! And all three goals scored in the space of about 15 minutes! The top scorer in the PDL is pretty good.

Colchester then pulled one back as Oscar Thorn was afforded time and space inside the box and slammed his shot past Luke Faxon (good finish to be fair) and after Marsh put the ball in the net again and was denied by the offside flag, Oliver Arblaster then produced a diving header on the goal-line right before half-time to stop a certain goal - such a vital contribution and bravery to put his body on the line like that at an important time in the game.

If the first half was the Louie Marsh show, step forward Will Osula in the second half as he took centre stage and delivered a quality example of the carnage he can cause.

The big man didn't need a second invitation when the Colchester 'keeper played the ball straight out to him on the edge of the box - thus allowing him the simplest of finishes, and 4-1 very quickly became 5-1 when Osula burst through - using his physique, balance and power to extremely strong effort (thus preventing any defender from distracting him), and finished emphatically with a bullet strike. It's a good job the 'keeper didn't get in the way because the shot might have took his head off, such was the power behind it.

Still with well over half-an-hour to play, it was clear that the Blades were in the mood to cause absolute destruction. Colchester were being sliced open and soon enough, Osula got the goal to complete his hat-trick in what was probably the pick of all the goals. This time he linked up with Marshy yet again inside the box via some scintilating one-touch play and movement which allowed them both to find themselves space, and then having got the ball back from his partner in crime, he just slammed the ball high and hard into the top corner with the Colchester 'keeper not able to get anywhere near it. 

Wow! Remember the name Will Osula!

Arguably the most phenomenal thing about this Sheffield United academy is the ridiculous depth of quality in every position throughout their squad - and when 'Sir' Louie Marsh (give him the knighthood now) left the stage to be replaced by Fernando Macedo, within a minute the Brazilian star added his touch of samba style to the game and made an absolutely devastating impact to leave his mum dancing for delight just infront of the directors box.

Straight away he got involved in the play high up the pitch, using his skill and ability to cause problems, then he unleashed a stinging effort which took a slight deflection and came back off the bar, and with Colchester not properly able to clear the pressure, the Brazilian gambled inside the six-yard box to convert from a resulting ball across the face of goal.

Cue bedlam in the stands! Because if you're reading this, Fernando, you didn't half make your mum happy as she was jumping up and down with pure, passion and elation - beaming, delighted and proud of her boy (all of it picked up on the audio which is on the highlights) and absolutely 'Loving It, Loving It, Loving It' - even if the stewards wanted to try and move her back to her seat.

What a moment to remember!

There were no further goals and it finished 7-1 - in spite of the determination, desire and itensity of Sydie Peck who played with such an 'edge' throughout the game that he grabbed the ball back in aggressive style late on to stop Colchester from petty time-wasting.

He wanted more. He wanted to score. And to be fair, he deserved a goal. And those qualities, coupled with the sheer ruthlessness and quality of this Sheffield United team, is why they're so good.

Overall, it was a pleasure to be there to see this because there are some top lads in this team who are BALLERS and I can't wait to see how their careers unfold and follow them over the next few years.

I was pleased just to see Marshy hit 20 for the season (nevermind 21 and 22), but I also learned so much about Will Osula who despite knowing exactly who he is and what he can do, I haven't seen that much of previously. The link-up play and understanding between the pair of them was on another level and amongst the best I've seen anywhere this season - the third goal and the sixth goal were class (the first one wasn't too bad either), their relationship was on show at other points too, and even though I've only mentioned the goals scored above, they could both quite easily have had another couple of goals apiece with other chances they had.

A top performance! A top team... that 'We Are The Champions Song' sounded very good in the post-match presentation where the shield was hoisted aloft and Owen Hampson stood at the end in his tracky bottoms and quickly scarpered out of the way pretty quickly to make sure he didn't get soaked once the water bottles were being tipped on perople. Sneaky! Make sure you get him next time lads!

Little mentions too for Marshy hitting his own standing leg with a shot in the second half (some effort that one was), Andre Brooks not quite hitting his mate on the opposition with the ball just before half-time, Colchester becoming very rattled at different points (and I mean VERY rattled), Sydie Peck being the angriest lad on the planet but showing so much determination to succeed and want more - even at 7-1, and also that diving header by Oliver Arblaster on his own goal-line right on half-time. I don't think it knocked any sense into him but if it had gone in, it might, just might, have perked Colchester up a bit for the second half.

Top afternoon. I'll see you in the Play-Offs!

Team: Luke Faxon, Sai Sachdev, Jili Buyabu, Levis Pitan, Connor Barratt, Miguel Freckleton, Sydie Peck, Oliver Arblaster, Will Osula, Louie Marsh, Andre Brooks. Subs: Callum Yam, Ben Drake, Charlie Staniland, Josh Smith, Fernando Macedo.