University of Sheffield 5-0 University of Leeds seconds
Sheffield moved into second in the league with their third win on the bounce, and fourth in six games this season, with a confidence-boosting thumping of Leeds, who have lost all their games this year and sit rock bottom.
A brace from David Kettle and futher goals by Alex Brookes, Dom Agnew and Josh Thompson gave Sheffield the win. (Photo: Andrey Vasiliyev)
Having beaten their opponents’ city rivals Leeds Met 2-1 last week, the home side started brightly, with Sam Strong flicking a corner just wide in the opening minute.
Though Leeds fought back and kept possession well, Sheffield were creating all the openings – Toluwa and Dom Agnew combined excellently with an intricate passing move, however Toluwa’s shot was blocked. Nevertheless, on 15 minutes Sheffield went 1-0 up – Toluwa slid the ball in for David Kettle, who beat the offside trap and casually finished his fourth strike of the campaign, moving him on his own in the lead for top goalscorer, ahead of Will Doyle on three.
Leeds were making a real game of it however, and when Cripps and Strong failed to adequately close down an attack, a shot from 18 yards clipped the right post with keeper Adam Seymor stranded. Seymor had already made a good close range block after a corner wasn’t cleared, and was being kept on his toes by numerous long range efforts. At the other end, Kettle was uncharacteristically wasteful, shooting straight at the keeper from 14 yards after Jake Stevens flicked him through.
Nevertheless, Sheffield were the better team, Strong living up to his name at centre half, and Kettle terrorising the Leeds defence from all angles – Thompson’s delicate backheel put the big man in again, but his left-footed curler missed the top corner by inches. Kettle then appeared to be hacked down right on the edge of the area, but the referee waved play on in spite of Kettle remaining prone on the ground. He was fine however, and later got a booking for one too many complaints to the official.
Then, finally, the floodgates opened as Sheffield deserved, as three goals were scored in just five minutes. On 69 minutes, Toluwa was again industrious on the right, poking the ball through for captain Andy Forster, whose pull back was polished off by Kettle – five in six league games, an exceptional return – although he would be unable to reach his hat trick.
Toluwa was at the heart of the third too; he won the corner, which was swung right onto Alex Brookes’ head, and he looped it over the hapless Leeds goalkeeper, who may well have been distracted by Kettle standing on the line.
The fourth was scored when Josh Thompson’s superb left-footed cross was guided in by the head of Agnew, who was instantly replaced by James Shields, who had time to claim an assist. With eight minutes left, Shields threaded a through ball for Thompson, who rounded the goalkeeper, though he had time to wait until his adversary was back in position, before deservedly finishing high into the back of the net.
The University of Sheffield Men’s Football firsts want a regular physio after the winter break. Anyone interested should contact team captain Andy Forster on 07989299253.
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