In an unusually arranged friendly fixture, Sheffield United saw off League One opposition Lincoln City by six goals without reply, at the Blades training ground, the Randox Health Academy.

 

Unlike traditional friendly matches, two games were played, each lasting 60 minutes long with United fielding a different side in each match. Paul Heckingbottom played a mixture of first-team and Academy starlets in each one-hour fixture, with Danish striker Will Osulu netting a brace within the first ten minutes, whilst Ben Osborn, Sander Berge, and a Rhian Brewster brace helped to condemn the Imps to a six-goal defeat. However, the Blades were without defender Anel Ahmedhodžić (illness), midfielder Tommy Doyle (thigh), on loan from Manchester City, and keeper Wes Foderingham (calf). Meanwhile, Rhys Norrington-Davies, who was substituted early in the previous fixture, was left out as a precaution and youngster Harrison Neal was absent due to a pending loan move away from Bramall Lane.

 

The Blades were the smarter of the two teams in the early exchanges and within ten minutes had guided themselves into a two-goal lead. On 3 minutes, OSULU finished inside the area after Enda Stevens supplied the pass. United’s lead was doubled five minutes later after a generous pinged pass from Norwood found OSULU, whose expert control and finish were a delight to behold. 

 

Lincoln looked agile on the ball but lack the quality to mount any pressing in the final third with a speculative effort from Adelakun being the Imps’ only effort of any note. 

 

Sheffield United 6-0 Lincoln City

 Tuesday, 12th July 2022 – Kick-Off: 11:00 AM

 Pre-Season Friendly

 

The visitors looked composed after the first-match interval with the second 30 minutes looking bright, although they failed to find the back of the net, even after United lost keeper Adam Davies to injury on 40 minutes and was subsequently replaced by youngster Jordan Amissah. In the early exchanges, John Fleck was well poised to block Adelakun’s effort after a cross was supplied from the left.

 

After Davies was replaced, Daniel Jebbison and Osulu combined with keeper Carl Rushworth denying the Danish forward the opportunity of a hat-trick. 

 

The hosts looked to finish strong in the final ten minutes of the first match. Jebbison flashed wide at the near post after Broadbent found space down the right to cross before Osulu saw his goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Poole. However, at the other end, keeper Amissah was off his line to keep out Oakley-Boothe, as United won the first match 2-0.

 

Sheffield United (First 60-minute game): Davies (Amissah 40), Broadbent, Basham, Gordon, Gomis, Stevens, Norwood, Coulibaly, Fleck, Osula, Jebbison. Unused: Brooks, Peck.

 

The second 60 minutes was played out as a training session, though United added four more goals to their tally. As in the first fixture, it was the hosts who took an early lead after Illiman Ndiaye broke freely down the left before teeing up OSBORN who fired home.

 

United doubled their lead on 20 minutes through Norwegian, BURGE, who remains a Blade despite being linked with a move elsewhere after the midfielder latched onto Baldock’s pass before advancing into the area and firing home.

 

The was a change of keepers for the hosts on 30 minutes after Wharton replaced Amissah. Following a slip by Jack Robinson, the rookie stopper ought to have been called into action but the Lincoln player dragged his effort wide.

 

On 38 minutes, the score became 3-0 in the second fixture (five goals in total) after BREWSTER finished off a good move from Osborn after he had been freed by Arblaster. United completed the route soon afterwards, again through BREWSTER after a fine move from Max Lowe, Ndiaye, and Osborn connected before the former Liverpool striker finished.

 

Not content with six goals for the day, United went in search of a seventh in the closing minutes but keeper Long denied Ndiaye.

 

Sheffield United (Second 60-minute game): Davies (Amissah 40), Broadbent, Basham, Gordon, Gomis, Stevens, Norwood, Coulibaly, Fleck, Osula, Jebbison. Unused: Brooks, Peck.