Women's Under-21s beaten by Blades | OneFootball

Our Women’s Under-21s suffered a heavy defeat in the Professional Game Academy League, as Sheffield United ran out 5-0 winners on Wednesday afternoon.

Grace Foy fired the visitors ahead in the opening stages of the game and, despite some terrific saves from Erin Radbourne to keep the deficit at one, Chloe Salisbury doubled her side’s advantage just after half hour mark to put them in firm control of the contest.

Although we started on the front foot after the break, the Blades pulled further away just before the hour mark through Isobel Stewart. That was followed by Ruby Ormiston’s pinpoint strike from distance before Olivia Edwards rounded off the scoring in the closing minutes of the game.

We made a strong start in the gorgeous sunshine at Hotspur Way as Kendra Brown picked out Persis Oteng inside the box who saw her left-footed shot saved low by Amelia Lydiatt, however, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on seven minutes, Radbourne producing a fantastic save to deny Foy but she reacted quickest to the rebound to slot the ball into the bottom corner.

Oteng had another good opportunity to bring us on level terms after some impressive pressing saw her win the ball on the edge of the box, advance into the box but couldn’t find a way past Lydiatt while, at the other end, Radbourne was in inspired form to keep the deficit at one, denying Foy and Edwards in quick succession, before Salisbury eventually got the better of Radbourne just after the half hour mark, slotting the ball under our shot stopper to double their advantage after a charging run down the left from Foy before squaring the ball to her team-mate.

Foy then saw a looping effort from distance dropped narrowly wide of the post after spotting Radbourne off her line before we came inches away from pulling a goal back in the closing minutes of the half, Oteng’s half volley from 12 yards out striking the crossbar after Jhanaie Pierre’s free-kick from midway in our half was only half-cleared.

Looking for a quick response after the break, Mia Endacott flashed an inviting low ball across the face of the goal with no one in the box to convert, but our positive start in the early parts of the second half was quickly undone just before the hour mark when Stewart fired home from close range after good build-up play from the visitors.

Pierre’s low cross was met by substitute Eloise Summers-Mee at the front post but Lydiatt was out quickly to block our forward before Pierre sent a curling right-footed effort from the edge of the box, and that was as good as it got for us in truth as the visitors stormed further ahead in the clash.

Foy collected the ball from around 25 yards out and fired a fierce effort off the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net, adding a fourth for the Blades on 78 minutes, and three minutes later, Edwards grabbed their fifth with a looping shot over Radbourne and into the far corner after a fine counterattack, condemning us to our first defeat in three games in all competitions.

"It wasn’t a true reflection of where we have been recently"

Reflecting on the game, Nick Hardy told us: “It’s very disappointing result but, the most disappointing thing for us was the performance, we fell well below our levels, individually and collectively. We had small moments that we will be able to feedback and reflect on it but, as a whole, we’re really disappointed with how we went about trying to do what we usually do. In the first half, we were probably a little fortunate to get into half time within touching distance and we had some bright moments at the start of the second half but failed with our application and intent when we complete those entries into the box, they then added to their tally and it became a mountain to climb. Ultimately, it’s a real feeling of disappointment as we have been in a good vein of form in the league and cup competitions, but today wasn’t a true reflection of where we have been recently.”