U18 REPORT: SHEFFIELD UNITED 1-0 BURNLEY

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Clarets fall short against Blades in narrow defeat away from home

2022-11-26T15:00:00.000Z

U18 REPORT: SHEFFIELD UNITED 1-0 BURNLEY

Clarets fall short against Blades in narrow defeat away from home

2022-11-26T15:00:00.000Z

CLARETS CALENDAR: YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEK AHEAD - Image 2

Burnley’s youth team fell to defeat away from home in U18 Professional Development League action, losing out 1-0 to Sheffield United at the SUFC Academy.

A second half header from Kurtis Havenhand sealed the three points for the hosts in a close encounter which saw few clear-cut chances for either side.

With assistant manager Ross Wallace in charge for the first time as boss Tony Philliskirk recovers from a medical procedure, three changes were made to the Young Clarets side that lost 4-3 to Barnsley at the Burnley Training Centre last Saturday (19th November).

Frankie Deane, Rohan Vaughan and Vernon Masara were the three to drop out of the lineup with Sonny Pickup, Joe Westley and Tosin Olopade all returning from the off in Yorkshire.

U18 REPORT: SHEFFIELD UNITED 1-0 BURNLEY - Image 1

First Half

The Blades started quickly, and it was Havenhand who had the first chance of the contest with a free-kick from 30 yards out which flew over the bar, leaving Burnley goalkeeper Harry Moss untroubled.

Brandon Ly’s clever footwork then worked space for the hosts, but he fired his effort way over the bar, again leaving Moss untested.

The Young Clarets were struggling to gain a foothold in the game, and with their third chance of the first 10 minutes, United were almost in front. A free-kick delivered into the box wasn’t cleared and resulted in a scramble in front of goal, before Havenhand finally got a shot away that was well blocked and deflected over.

As the Blades quick start to the encounter began to fade, Burnley began to work their way back into the first half and were close to taking the lead themselves when captain Joe Westley took a long ball down well to fire a low effort across goal which only needed a touch. That chance though evaded the side.

CLARETS CALENDAR: YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEK AHEAD - Image 4

With the final action of note in a tight first half which saw neither ‘keeper have to make a save, the hosts should have got themselves in front with a gilt-edged chance which fell to the influential Havenhand.

He was slipped through by fellow attacker Billy Blacker but could only find the side netting as Moss did well to narrow the angle.

Second Half

The second half began in an almost identical way to the first, with a Havenhand free kick. This time it was much closer to being the opener, a well struck effort dropping inches wide of the left post.

Burnley’s best chance of the game came moments later via a set-piece of their own. Brad Grant whipped a corner into the middle of the box and after the Blades failed to clear, Joe Ashton caught the ball superbly with a half-volley which slammed against the crossbar as the game remained goalless.

U18s: KICK-OFF CHANGE AGAINST TIGERS & BLADES GAME RE-ARRANGED - Image 1

It wasn’t long before the deadlock was broken after that, but it was the hosts that did so. Jack Waldron lifted a free-kick towards the back post and Havenhand towered above his marker to nod into the ground and home just prior to the hour-mark.

The Young Clarets went straight up the other end and almost instantly equalised as Tosin Olopade’s header in space from Grant’s cross could only find the hands of Callum Yan in the United goal.

Another scramble, this time in the hosts area, resulted in Grant clipping an effort over before Billy Blacker headed onto the bar at the other end as both sides searched for the next goal in the contest which ultimately never came for either.

U18 REPORT: SHEFFIELD UNITED 1-0 BURNLEY - Image 4

A red card for full back Grant late on was the last action of note as the Young Clarets fell to defeat away from home in a tight game.

The U18s are now back in action next Saturday – 3rd December – when they are on the road oncemore with a trip to Millwall and an 11am (GMT) KO scheduled.

Sheffield United: Yam, Waldron, Drake, Ly, Pitan ©, Okyere (Prunty ‘60), Kiwomya (Coubrough ’63), Clarke, Havenhand, Blacker, Haughton-Parris.

Unused Subs: Faxon, Howard, Tahir

Burnley: Moss, James, Rogers, Ashton, Olapade (Bryan ’61), Gromek (Vaughan ’78), West, Grant, Pickup (Wane ’63), Tioffo, Westley ©

Unused Subs: Vilar Robinson, Sweeney

Goals: Havenhand, ’57