York City and Sheffield United opened their pre-season campaigns at the LNER Community Stadium, with the Blades coming out on top as both sides fielded two different elevens.
Hosts York City, sporting their bright pink third kit, handed starts to new signings Ricky Aguiar, after he signed from Swindon Town yesterday and new goalkeeper Harrison Male, who joined the club from Dorking Wanderers.
The Championship outfit included reported Fulham target Vinicius Souza in their first-half lineup alongside Bosnian international Anel Ahmedhodzic, whose previous two appearances were for his country against England and Italy in June.
The opening exchanges saw the Blades on top and dominating possession, with York keeper Male rolling Alex Hunt into trouble on the edge of the box, only for the former Grimsby Town man to nick the ball back to his keeper.
Despite the pressure, York was looking to play out from the back with Hunt and right-back Ryan Fallowfield their outlets. It was Fallowfield who roused the crowd with an excellent challenge on United’s Traore deep in home territory after nine minutes.
Having had the majority of possession, the Blades found themselves a goal down a minute later when new York signing Tyrese Sinclair nipped in to take the ball away from the United midfield before dinking the ball over on-rushing Davies to open his account for the club.
The goal was followed by the first period of sustained York possession, only for them to play themselves into trouble again as young winger Andre Brooks nicked the ball from Adam Crookes but was met by an excellent sliding challenge from the home goalkeeper.
York’s number 10 Ollie Pearce was a lively presence up top for the Minstermen. The former Worthing man had a goal chalked out for offside after 20 minutes as he went too early looking to latch on to an excellent curling pass from Joe Felix.
Ricky Aguiar showed his confidence with an audacious attempt from halfway after a communication mix-up involving Sheffield United captain Jack Robinson. Thankfully, for the Blades at least, it was catching practice for Adam Davies.
Felix was again at the heart of the action when he and Fallowfield got in a muddle on the edge of their 18-yard box and it looked as if Traore was about to pull the trigger before the 24-year-old got back to make an excellent sliding tackle.
It wasn’t until the 27th minute of the match that the visitors managed to pull level. A cross into the box was firmly met by Ahmedhodzic who produced an impressive close-range stop from Male before 18 -year-old Ryan One smashed home from close range.
Former Harrogate Town defender Fallowfield was being made to work hard by Benie Traore but the full-back managed to spark an attack after a nutmeg on the 21-year-old, only for the ball to come straight back and Male to be called upon to make yet another sliding challenge on the edge of his area.
The Ivorian Traore was a bright spark throughout the half, showing quick feet in the 37th minute to create space before spreading the play to the opposite flank. Andre Brooks skilfully beat his man only for his effort to be blocked.
As the first half headed to a close and the game had gone quiet, scorer Sinclair was again bearing down on the United goal only to be thwarted by the long legs of Ahmedhodzic as he slid in to take the ball away.
Half time: York City 1 – 1 Sheffield United
The second half saw the home side introduce another new signing in Darragh O’Connor and last season’s top scorer Dipo Akinyemi while the Blades’ lineup included Croatian keeper Ivo Grbic, Rhian Brewster and new signing Jamie Shackleton.
The former Leeds United man Shackleton lined up in the middle of the park, playing slightly ahead of second-half skipper Ollie Arblaster. In the centre of the Blades’ defence was 17-year-old Lithuanian Dovydas Sasnauskas who was up against two powerful forwards in the shape of the experienced Lenell John-Lewis and last season’s top scorer for York Dipo Akinyemi.
After a slow start to the second period, a burst of pace from Shackleton down the right was followed by a low cross and a fantastic chance for Rhian Brewster who couldn’t beat Rory Watson from close range, with the keeper making a smart save with his outstretched leg.
Just after the hour mark it was United’s Will Osula who looked to inject some life into proceedings. Playing out on the left, Osula produced a neat step over on the edge of the box before firing his left-footed drive wide of Watson’s far post.
Seven minutes later it was again Osula jinking into the York box before firing his shot past Watson’s goal. Neat play between Shackleton and Arblaster after the former had regained possession with a strong challenge led to the former Derby County loanee’s chance, only for him to fire over.
Next, it was Rhian Brewster who stung the palms of Watson with a fierce drive that the stopped managed to turn away for a corner. Arblaster’s low kick was cleared away at the near post before Jayden Bogle’s cross flew out for a goal kick.
York came to life in the 73rd with some superb play from Akinyemi. The centre forward brought the ball down on his chest before a delightful back heel down the flank for the first of City’s three trialists to run on to. Akinyemi then looked to finish the move with a powerful volley from a John-Lewis chest down, only for the effort to be blocked.
It was a case of third-time lucky for Osula in the 76th minute when he cut across the box and bent his effort wide of the helpless Watson and into the top right-hand corner of the net. It was a deserved goal for the forward who had looked bright up to that point.
Both clubs will feel this was a useful workout as they prepare for their respective league seasons, with 45 minutes being given to those players who were available. The hosts will be encouraged by the performances of Joe Felix and Ryan Fallowfield down the right as well as the link-up play between Dan Batty, Hunt and Aguiar in the middle of the park.
For the Blades, the appearance and performance of new signing Shackleton will no doubt please manager Chris Wilder and Will Osula will be feeling confident after finding the back of the net.
Full time: York City 1 – 2 Sheffield United
