McFadzean makes his mark to give Blades advantage

Along the way, however, there have been some outstanding moments with the 2003 second-leg extra-time victory over Nottingham Forest unlikely to be forgotten by anyone present.

Last night’s first-leg victory over Yeovil Town may not compare in terms of drama and entertainment, but for one lifelong Blades fan it is an occasion he will never forget.

Callum McFadzean, in only his 11th appearance for the club he supported as a boy, netted the first goal of his senior career to ensure the Blades will head to Huish Park for Monday’s return leg with a precious lead.

Less than 60 seconds of the second half had elapsed when McFadzean, a 31st-minute replacement for the injured Barry Robson, struck with a drilled shot that took a slight deflection off Yeovil defender Jamie McAllister before bouncing into the net off the inside of Marek Stech’s post.

It was a moment the teenager had dreamed of when coming through the club’s Academy as Bramall Lane rose to hail one of their own.

Whether McFadzean’s strike proves enough to take United to their fifth play-off final remains to be seen.

But, certainly, there was a renewed optimism among the Blades faithful in the 15,262 crowd – down by almost 6,000 on last season’s play-off semi-final victory over Stevenage – at the final whistle that their play-off hoodoo may finally be about to come to an end.

Much of that can be put down to not only McFadzean but also an improved attacking performance from the Blades, who with steadier finishing could have put the game beyond Yeovil before the visitors staged a late rally. Mind, perhaps Chris Morgan’s side having just the one goal to show for their efforts was not too much of a surprise considering they only found the net four times in the final seven home games of the regular season.

In the first half, this lack of a cutting edge meant Stech had a comfortable time with only a curled free-kick by Robson on eight minutes having the Yeovil goalkeeper genuinely worried.

A needless foul by Edward Upson on the Scot had created the opening. Robson then curled the ball just inches wide of a post as Stech scrambled across his line.

That apart, the hosts proved wasteful in the opening 45 minutes with even a couple of gilt-edged opportunities ending with the ball sailing high and wide.

Jamie Murphy was guilty of spurning perhaps the best of those openings just after the half-hour mark when he shot wildly over after Yeovil had failed to clear Robson’s out-swinging corner.

The former Middlesbrough man’s impressive set-piece delivery was also behind United’s other clear-cut chance of the first half when his free-kick found Dave Kitson unmarked only for the striker to mis-cue his header and the ball to sail harmlessly wide.

Kitson was also off target two minutes before the interval after being picked out by Darryl Westlake, though in mitigation he seemed to be nudged off balance.

Yeovil did fashion a couple of threatening moments before the break with Joe Edwards having perhaps the visitors’ best chance when his shot was blocked by Neill Collins.

Kevin Dawson also went close with a drilled shot before just being beaten to the ball by George Long after sloppy Blades defending had threatened to gift the visitors an opening.

The game’s defining moment came just 52 seconds after the interval and owed much to an intelligent left-wing pass from Jamie Murphy. With the Glovers’ defence expecting the ball to fly into the six-yard area, the Blades midfielder instead picked out McFadzean 15 yards out and the teenager did the rest with a sweet finish.

Yeovil’s response was swift as Edward Upson almost deceived Long with a 25-yard shot that the goalkeeper could only partially block before Collins cleared.

Upson was again involved just before the hour with a deft pass that James Hayter followed with an equally impressive chipped finish only for the former Doncaster Rovers man’s celebrations to be cut short by a linesman’s flag.

Collins then did brilliantly to avert danger as Paddy Madden threatened before Byron Webster’s header was held by Long.

An ambitious penalty appeal by Luke Ayling was also turned down by referee Stuart Attwell, who then did the same in the 89th minute when poor control by Harry Maguire deep inside Blades’ area saw the ball strike his hand.

An argument could be made that the defender was unable to get out of the way but, even so, Glovers manager Gary Johnson was furious with the decision.

At the other end, United had plenty of chances to double their advantage as Murphy had a shot saved by Stech and then fired just wide.

McFadzean was also unfortunate not to bag a second goal midway through the half after wriggling his way through a couple of challenges before bringing a flying save from the Yeovil goalkeeper.

The final act of the contest saw Long keep out Webster’s acrobatic effort with a stunning reflex block deep into stoppage time.

It was enough to ensure that the Blades will head to Somerset on Monday with a precious advantage as they bid to end their play-off hoodoo once and for all.

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Sheffield United: Long; Westlake, Maguire, Collins, Hill; Robson (McFadzean 31), McDonald, Doyle, Murphy; Kitson (Ironside 75), Porter (Whitehouse 90). Unused substitutes: Higginbotham, Chapell, Barry, Coyne.

Yeovil Town: Stech; Ayling, Webster, Burn, McAllister; Dawson, Edwards, Upson, Foley; Madden, Hayter (Balanta 73). Unused substitutes: Hinds, Blizzard, Williams, Stewart, Maksimenko, Young.

Referee: S Attwell (Warwickshire).