Sheffield United 3 (Hampson 45+1, Marsh 48, 84) Wolves 0
Wolves under-21s suffered defeat on the road at Sheffield United in the Premier League Cup on Tuesday evening following goals from Owen Hampson and Louie Marsh (2).
Sheffield United fielded a strong starting line-up with Jamie Shackleton and Rhys Norrington-Davies both in the 11, while Wolves made five changes from last Thursday’s 4-0 victory over Huddersfield Town in the same competition.
The visitors were dealt an early blow when Aaron Keto-Diyawa came off worse in a heavy challenge, and hobbled off before being replaced by Hayden Carson.
The first opportunity of the game came when Harry Boyes skipped past Tom Edozie on the left and chipped in a cross which found the head of Ryan One, but the striker could only head wide of the far post.
Femi Seriki then ventured forward from the right-back position and found space to shoot on the edge, however his firm effort was well batted away by Lewys Benjamin in the Wolves goal.
Boyes was a constant threat for the Blades down the left and after making tracks, the full-back cut the ball back to One who in turn teed up Marsh who had all the space and time in the world to pick his spot, but somehow skewed wide.
The hosts eventually found their breakthrough in the first minute of added time at the end of the first half. Seriki found himself in acres on the right and after his low cross wasn’t cleared by the Old Gold defence, Hampson picked up the loose ball and found the corner despite the best efforts of Benjamin who got a glove to it.
Half-time | Sheffield United 1-0 Wolves
United doubled their advantage little over three minutes after the restart, and it was a well-worked free-kick that gave Marsh the opportunity to curl an effort from the corner of the box through the bodies and inside Benjamin’s left-hand post.
After bringing on Makenzie Bradbury at the break, James Collins made use of his final three substitutes shortly after the hour mark, with Alfie White, Josh Esen and Dani Angel all entering the fray.
And the changes injected some life into the Old Gold as Fletcher Holman worked an opportunity after battling with the defender before working hard to cut inside onto his left foot and forcing Luke Faxon into a low save.
At the other end, Boyes met a sweet half-volley that didn’t quite have the direction into the corner, as the ball spun gratefully into the gloves of Benjamin.
Hampson had a glorious opportunity to add his second and Sheffield United’s third of the night as a defence-splitting pass found the attacker in behind however, after going for the near post, he dragged his effort just wide of the mark.
A few minutes later, Marsh made no mistake in making it three after some good combination play down the right before Marsh received the ball in the centre and rounded Benjamin before tapping into an empty net.
The game ended in unfortunate circumstances as a challenge between Carson and Sai Sachdev resulted in the latter being stretched off and the referee bringing a premature halt to proceedings.
Full-time | Sheffield United 3-0 Wolves
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s host Leeds United at Aggborough in their next Premier League 2 fixture on Monday evening.
NEXT THREE
- 23/09 Leeds (H)
- 26/09 Monaco (H) PLIC
- 30/09 Derby (A)
TEAMS
Sheffield United | Faxon, Seriki (Tinsdale 60), Boyes, Shackleton (Aston 65), Norrington-Davies, Sasnauskas, Sachdev, Blacker, One, Marsh, Hampson.
Subs not used | Easton, Molyneux, Buyabu.
Wolves | Benjamin, Okoduwa (White 63), Keto-Diyawa (Carson 11), Mabete, Voice, Ashworth, Edozie (Esen 63), Whittingham, Holman, Barnett (Bradbury 46), Farmer (Angel 63).
