Manchester United 4 Sheffield United 1: Blades youngsters battle but fail to halt Reds’ tide

Sheffield United may have last night missed out on the chance to lift the FA Youth Cup as Manchester United claimed the trophy for a record-breaking tenth time.

But, at the end of a desperate season that has seen the Blades relegated to League One, John Pemberton’s side showed just why the powers-that-be at Bramall Lane have such high hopes for this group of youngsters.

On a night when they were taking on a club who have the pick of youth talent across the globe, the lads from South Yorkshire gave such a good account of themselves that they received a deserved standing ovation from the crowd at the final whistle.

Two goals apiece from Ravel Morrison and William Keane were enough to give the Premier League club a second piece of silverware in as many days.

That on Sunday it was the Premier League title being handed over to Nemanja Vidic in front of a full Old Trafford showed just how well the Yorkshire club had done to get to the final in the first place.

In contrast, the Blades have endured a calamitous year with four managers passing through Bramall Lane as the club slid into the third tier of English football for the first time in more than two decades.

No wonder, therefore, that supporters – more than 6,000 of whom made the trip across a traffic-choked Woodhead Pass – have sought refuge in the endeavours of the club’s youth team in recent weeks.

Certainly, several in this group have the potential to enjoy a bright future in the game.

To ensure the kids are indeed all right, however, they will have to be nurtured carefully as League One is no place to pitch in teenagers en masse due to the very real danger that the vast majority will sink rather than swim amid the choppy waters of League football.

Financial constraints may, of course, dictate otherwise with whoever replaces Micky Adams as manager likely to have to get by with a vastly reduced budget.

If that does prove to be the case and youth is given its head next term, on last night’s evidence at least the Bramall Lane faithful know they will get plenty of honest endeavour and no little quality.

The Red Devils went ahead seven minutes before the interval through Morrison, who was on hand to finish coolly from 12 yards after William Keane had fluffed a shot.

A handball by Terry Kennedy in stoppage time that referee Michael Oliver did very well to spot then provided the home side with a chance to open up a two-goal lead that William Keane duly took from the resulting penalty.

Going in two goals behind at the break was tough on the Blades, who for long periods had more than matched their illustrious hosts.

With five of Pemberton’s players already boasting first-team experience, perhaps this should not have come as too much of a surprise.

Nevertheless, it was still heart-warming to see the visitors from Yorkshire take the game to their Premier League counterparts.

Jordan Slew, one of those to have made the breakthrough to senior football in the final few weeks of the Championship season, twice went close to giving the Blades what would have been a deserved goal.

First, on 15 minutes, he showed a great touch and awareness to turn his marker on the edge of the area before drilling a low shot just inches past the post.

Then, with the home side already a goal ahead, Slew again created sufficient space to curl an exquisite shot agonisingly wide.

Slew’s two efforts were by no means the only occasions Sam Johnstone’s goal was threatened with Joe Ironside’s looping header landing on top of the net and captain Elliott Whitehouse being just a split-second away from reaching an inviting cross as the ball rolled along the six-yard box.

Whitehouse continued to be a threat after the break, his darting run and shot on 65 minutes demanding a fine save from Johnstone.

Whitehouse also had a fierce effort charged down but, in truth, the tie was over and the Premier League side added a third goal through a cool finish by Morrison on 69 minutes.

Pemberton’s battlers refused to be bowed, however, and claimed the goal their endeavours had deserved just four minutes later.

Fittingly, Slew was heavily involved in the move with an incisive run and chipped pass that allowed Ironside to control before rolling a shot past Johnstone to send the huge travelling army of fans into raptures.

William Keane added a fourth goal for the home side before the end but there was no dimming the pride felt by the Blades hordes at the final whistle as they rose to salute a group who have, at least, restored a sense of pride to the Yorkshire club.

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Manchester United: Johnstone; M Keane, Thorpe, Fornaiser, McGinty; Lingard (Cole 78), Pogba, Tunnicliffe, van Velzen (Blackett 84); W Keane, Morrison (Cofie 90). Unused substitutes: Coll, Massacci.

Sheffield United: Long; Montgomery, Maguire (Pomares 55), Kennedy, Barry; Gregory (Martin 68), Harriott, Whitehouse, McFadzean; Ironside (Wilkinson 76), Slew. Unused substitutes: Willis, Ahmandi.

Referee: M Oliver (Northumberland).