Reserves: Sheff U 2 United 1
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United's Reserves slipped to a narrow defeat against Sheffield United
despite a valiant late effort.
The Reds were already trailing to goals from Stephen Quinn and Nicky
Travis for the hosts before Aaron Burns saw a penalty saved by Paul
Gerrard in the Blades goal.
David Gray grabbed his first Reserves goal with a scrambled finish but,
despite applying plenty of pressure in the latter stages of the game,
United couldn't find an equaliser.
Brian McClair's side ultimately paid the penalty for a lacklustre first
half, which ensured that their efforts after the interval ultimately proved
fruitless.
Tomasz Kuszczak was in fine form for United, making two splendid reaction
stops early in the game to keep out headers from veterans Neil Shipperley
and Craig Short.
The Pole was helpless to prevent the Blades' opener, however, as Quinn beat
Danny Rose to a loose ball and hammered a shot in off the far post from the
edge of the area.
Alan Smith, who completed another 90 minutes, had United's only meaningful
effort of the half as Gerrard comfortably caught his long-range effort.
Straight after the interval he was denied again, this time by a heroic block
from David Sommeil who had thwarted Michael Barnes in identical fashion just
seconds earlier.
Shortly afterwards, Sheffield United doubled their lead. United failed to
clear a right-wing corner, and Travis lashed a shot into Kuszczak's top
corner from 15 yards.
United grew in stature from that point, and were gifted the chance to
drag themselves back into the game when Travis needlessly handled the
ball inside his own area.
Burns grabbed a hat-trick in the Reserves' last outing, but couldn't repeat
his heroics this time as Gerrard dived low to his right to comfortably
collect the striker's effort.
The arrears were halved when David Jones' deflected shot looped up and Gray
pounced to divert the ball past the flat-footed Gerrard.
United pressed for a leveller in the final 10 minutes, but couldn't forge
any clear-cut chances and remain second in the table as a result.
United: Kuszczak, Gray, Lea (Mullan, 50), Cathcart, Shawcross, Rose, Lee,
D Jones, Smith, Burns (Brandy, 80), Barnes.
Substitutes: Heaton, Ngalula.