Sheffield Wednesday (U21s) 3-1 Watford (U21s)

Sheffield Wednesday (U21s) 3-1 Watford (U21s)

Professional Development League

Friday 25th August 2023

My first time watching Sheffield Wednesday’s U21s this season - and a real pleasure to witness this game because the Owls were at their best as they were deserved winners against Watford.

Given the Hornets finished last season with a -35 goal difference and bottom of the PDL (South), coupled with the fact that Sheffield Wednesday have one of the best talismen anywhere in the country at Category Two level in Bailey Cadamarteri (who went into this game with four goals already to his name this term), I had a feeling that it might be a good day for the Owls and I wasn’t disappointed whatsoever by what I saw.

They played some really good football at times; Rio Shipston and Jay Glover were outstanding in midfield and dominated large parts of the game with the quality they showed (very impressive), Bailey Cadamarteri got his customary goal (water is wet), Sean Fusire weighed in with a goal too - and even though Watford grabbed a consolation with literally the last kick of the game (a very good finish as irritating as it was that it spoiled the possibility of a clean-sheet) it was still a really positive day all-round for anyone with SWFC connections.

After a quiet first 10 minutes, the game sprung to life when Sean Fusire received the ball to his feet inside the ‘D’ on the edge of the box and drilled his effort low and hard past Watford ‘keeper Myles Robert - straight into the bottom corner. Cue a celebration with Favour Onukwuli who (I think) got the assist, right infront of the Owls photographer sat just infront of the Leppings Lane End.

Two minutes later, there were some more celebration photos added to the collection because the Owls made it 2-0 - albeit this time Watford’s defence only had themselves to blame.

Although Bailey Cadamarteri headed over from a corner initially, the Hornets ‘keeper chose to try and play out from the back from the resulting goal-kick. The defender didn’t read the situation whatsoever and was dispossessed - and after a few seconds of panic with Watford’s defence all over the place, Rio Shipston found space inside the box, latched on to a ball that was played into him by Djeidi Gassama, and slammed the ball home to double the Owls’ advantage.

Some of the football that Wednesday played in the first half was really good. They used the width very effectively, there was pace and movement everywhere, they were dominant in midfield with Sjipston and Glover, and as a team they looked dangerous every time they got into the Watford half - and it soon could have been 3-0 when Favour Onukwuli got through from the left and saw a low attempt smothered well by the Watford ‘keeper.

The visitors then got more of a foothold and stemmed the flow for a short period around the half-hour mark but when they got chances, they couldn’t take them. Laken Torres (No.10) shanked an effort wide with his right-foot from about eight yards in one move before Jake Watkiss (No.11) curled a free-kick harmlessly over the bar from about 25 yards as the Hornets remained frustrated.

And before the break it was 3-0. Djeidi Gassama was clipped inside the box - an easy decision for the referee and with Bailey Cadamarteri on spot-kick duties, he duly sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to claim his fifth goal already in just three games this season.

And this was all with the half-time still yet to be blown!

It was clear that if either Wednesday carried on in this vein or Watford didn’t improve (or a combination of the two) then the Hornets were in for a proper hammering but the second half proved to be a lot quieter on the whole.

Wednesday had some decent chances to begin with as a driving run by Glover drew a foul on the edge of the box, from where Shipston saw his free-kick deflected wide. Then, a few minutes later, Bailey Cadamarteri - searching for a goal to join Louie Marsh at the top of the current PDL scoring charts, almost got in-behind but a defender managed to recover in time and block his attempt that looked as if it would have been on target.

Aside from a near-post effort which Jack Hall parried away just before half-time, Watford hadn’t done too much up to this point, but in the final 30 minutes, they pressed and probed and had a few chances - their trialist (No.4) had one shot blocked, Adam Adetoro (who came on as a sub for the Owls at half-time) produced a great sliding block to thwart Jonathan Lawson only moments after he’d been booked for fouling the same Watford player, whilst they hit the post in another move where Lawson skewed over the rebound.

It looked as if that Wednesday would hold keep the clean-sheet right until the last kick of the game - and three minutes into injury-time, as a cross in from Watford’s right-hand side came off Mackenzie Maltby and dropped perfectly for the attacker on the edge of the box who produced a stunning strike straight into the bottom corner with pace and power. It was nothing more than a consolation albeit Watford’s No.16 (Prince Sikiru) grabbed the ball and sprinted back to halfway in the extremely faintest of faint hopes that his team could score two more goals in the zero seconds which remained.

The game didn’t even re-start and although conceding such a late, late goal to spoil what would have been a good clean-sheet was irritating, it shouldn’t take the shine off an impressive performance by the Owls and a day filled with positives.

Sean Fusire and Bailey Cadamarteri will be buzzing with their goals, Favour Onukwuli and Djeidi Gassama had a few really good involvements at times and played their part, but the two players I thought were outstanding were Rio Shipston (nice goal too) and Jay Glover (really impressive and full of relentless energy).

I’ve always thought that midfield is the hardest position on the pitch to be a stand-out performer because, sometimes - if not quite often, midfielders can be anonymous and you don’t notice them too much watching from the stands.

That’s why good midfielders stand-out and in this game, both Shipston and Glover were dominant, dictated things, architects of some fantastic balls, heavily involved with their link-up play and it was a genuine pleasure to see them performing with confidence and freedom and look so accomplished.

I’ve liked Jay Glover for a while and, playing in a CDM role infront of the back four, his energy was tremendous for the entire 90 minutes. It seemed like he covered so much ground/distance but, not only that, he also tidied up really well a few times, nipped in to win the ball on various occasions and stop the opposition (one of his best strengths) and he did so many good things in the game. Hence why Neil Thompson was shouting ‘Good Jay’ so many times on the sidelines. His close-ball control was also reminiscent of Oliver Arblaster (absolutely flying on loan at Port Vale at the moment) and whilst there was one early pass which got intercepted and was sloppy on Jay’s part, he won the ball back straight away. He played some delightful balls - special mention for a floated 50-yard ball to feet in the first half, screened well and read the game impressively, and he stood out because he got some good moves going - including one in the second half (about 65 minutes) which set Djeidi Gassama free down the right. He was tidy and good in possession; also had two driving runs in the second half - one of which led to him winning that free-kick on the edge of the box.

I’ll always back my own judgments considering the amount of football I watch and players who I can compare others against, etc, and if Jay is able to find this consistency over a prolonged period, then he’s going to do well and be an absolute asset to a team. He’s earned his new deal at SWFC, this is a big season for him and it was a genuine pleasure to see him going about things with such confidence, doing well and dominating this game.

I’ve huge respect for it because, as I said above, midfield is the hardest position for a player to stand-out and he did that in this game!

And one last Jay Glover observation I have noticed is that wearing his socks above his knees (which I’ve seen him do before) must be a superstition on his part - either that or he’s feeling the cold in August!

As for Rio Shipston then I know what he can do in possession anyway and the impact he can have when he’s got the ball at his feet - and his quality has shone so many times (hence why a lad I know in Burton Albion’s U18s was describing him to me as the best player he’s ever played against recently). 

But Rio’s out-of-possession work in this game, plus his game-management (e.g. laying on the ball at one point in the first half; standing infront of it to stop a quick free-kick in the second) was very clever. He constantly got behind the ball during open play phases; thus making it difficult for Watford to break past him and his general understanding/reading of the game, and showed the awareness to make intelligent decisions and get into good areas. The biggest compliment I can give him is that he’s still 18 and will get better with age/experience but he’s already setting a really high benchmark and better than a lot I've seen out there around the same age.

I’ve got no doubt that a lot of people in football will appreciate his qualities (especially the off-the-ball/out-of-possession work) as he steps up and gets more and more exposure - not to mention the quality he can produce on the ball whether it be from his set-plays (usually good with his deliveries) and also open play.

And again it was a privilege to watch Jay Glover and Rio Shipston dictate the midfield and dominate things in this game. Very, very, very impressed by the pair of them and a day which they ought to feel pleased about given their respective contributions.

I will be at quite a few more Sheffield Wednesday games in the PDL this season and I’m already looking forward to my next visit - whether it be at Hillsborough, Middlewood Road or Stocksbridge Park Steels. 

Team: Jack Hall, Gui Sequeira, Sam Reed, Trialist, Ciaran Brennan, Jay Glover, Djeidi Gassama, Rio Shipston, Bailey Cadamarteri, Sean Fusire, Favour Onukwuli. Subs: Luke Cook, Jay Buchan, Adam Adetoro, Mackenzie Maltby, Cian Flannery.