Sheffield United took on County Londonderry in the semi -final of the Supercup NI tournament at the Coleraine showgrounds on Thursday evening. Sheffield United had the first chance as Sam Ackroyd got on the end of a free-kick, but his header was well saved by Rory Palmer, Palmer then made another brilliant save as he spread himself well to deny Harrison Neal a certain goal. County Londonderry had a good goalscoring opportunity on eighteen minutes as Jack Bradley headed wide from a corner.
Sheffield United carved an opening as Joe Allerton had a great chance after being played in by Shane Flynn but he scuffed his shot straight into the arms of Palmer when he really should have scored. Palmer then came to County Londonderry’s rescue again as he made a fine clearance to volley away a long Angelo Cappello pass . County Londonderry than had a great chance on the twenty eighth minutes as Eoghan Hawe met a low cross with a diving header but it lacked venom turning out to be an easy save for Marcus Dewhurst.
Sheffield United thought they had equalised when Isaac Marbridge put in a delightful cross for Flynn but his header was cleared off the line by Sam McClelland. County Londonderry however went ahead as Ben Wilson who is on the books of Sunderland scored a beautiful goal smashing his strike across goal the ball striking the post and flying into the net.
Sheffield United had a great chance to equalise after a goalmouth scramble as Angelo Cappello’s shot was cleared off the line by Harrison Neal, It was the Blades who had the next exciting moment of the game as the superb Palmer made another fantastic save to stop Cappello’s strike from six yards out. County Londonderry had a great chance to wrap the game up as Caolan McLaughlins’ free-kick was well dealt with by Blades keeper Dewhurst.
Sheffield United had their best opportunity of the night to level right at the death as goalkeeper Dewhurst got up for a long ball his header was knocked down for Joe Allerton his header was well kept out by Man of the Match Palmer as County Londonderry booked their place in the Supercup NI Junior Cup final for the first time in their history.
By Josh Bunting