Sheffield United Junior Blades win Youth U16s Cup
Written by John Preen on Monday 6th April 2009

Sheffield United Junior Blades 3 - 3 Redfearns JFC
(Sheffield United Junior Blades won 6 - 5 after extra time and penalties)

An excellent crowd turned out on a sunny Sunday morning at Hallam FC's Sandygate Road Ground to watch a thrilling encounter between Sheffield United's Junior Blades U16's and Redfearns JFC Under 16's, from Barnsley.

The match was an excellent advertisement for junior football at this age with end to end exciting play from both teams.

The game got underway and midway through the first half Redfearns deservedly went ahead when Gareth Byron Wright scored an excellent opening goal to the delight of the many Redfearns Fans who made the journey from Barnsley.

The end to end play continued with both teams playing some wonderful football and they all deserved the half-time break with Redfearns leading 1-0.

The second half opened with Sheffield United Junior Blades having the advantage of the well known 'Sandygate Slope' and it paid dividends on the hour mark when Cole Payne scored an excellent equaliser.

This only spurred Redfearns on and they gradually took control by going 3-1 up with goals from Jansen Berry and Matty Roberts.

Sheffield United Junior Blades heads were beginning to drop at this stage until hope was revived in the 75th minute when Adam Grey managed to pull one back shortly followed by an equaliser from Ben Glensthorpe.

Both sides tried to come up with a winner but tiredness and cramp appeared to be the only thing that was winning at this late stage.

With the score being 3-3 at full time both teams appeared shattered but had to battle on through extra time with both teams trying their hardest to achieve that winning goal, all to no avail and the result had to be decided on the dreaded penalties.

With Chris Palmer, Ben Glensthorpe, Greg Marshall, Luke Smith, Lee Williams and Tom Bland all converting their penalties for Sheffield United Junior Blades and Dan Smallman, Kyle Shirt, Matty Roberts, Tom Copping, Arron Tate converting for Redfearn's.

The final penalty was in the hands of Jordan Levitt whose excellent penalty was brilliantly saved by Sheffield United Junior Blades Goalkeeper, Lee Williams, who then went on to take the winning penalty to seal victory for the triumphant Sheffield United's Junior Blades U16's squad.

The Sheffield & Hallamshire Youth U16s Challenge Cup winners for 2009, Sheffield United Junior Blades received the cup from Mr. Maurice Matthews, Chairman of the Sheffield & Hallamshire County F.A.

Teams:

Sheffield United Junior Blades: Lee Williams, Tom Bland, Andy Deans, Josh Squires (captain), Adam Gray, Ryan Duffy, Cole Payne, Chris Palmer, Adam Bailey, Ben Glensthorpe, Greg Marshall, Dan Barnett and Luke Smith.

Redfearns JFC: Dan Smallman, Sam Bedford, Gareth Byron-Wright, Ryan Williams, Kyle Shirt (captain), Jordan Levitt, Jamie Shirtliffe, Ben Jones, Zach Lycett, Jansen Berry, Asad Kokhar, Danny Newsome, Charles Jones, Malcolm Mandaza, Matty Roberts and Arron Tate.