The hitman bagged two goals and caused numerous problems for Helmond Sport's defence in Saturday evening's friendly.
"I'd had chances in the other games and it was nice to see a couple go in," said Stead. "Our fitness was superior to theirs and we were getting in quite a bit. It was a wide pitch and we used it to our advantage.
"We've had three tough games on the tour - I'm pleased that we won the lot and that I've had a lot of minutes on the pitch."
Stead actually set the ball rolling for the first goal on 20 minutes. He forced a mistake out of defender Rene Paarde kooper and then lost his marker to meet Greg Halford's pinpoint cross, giving goalkeeper Robert van Westerop little chance from six yards.
Helmond were on the back foot early on but did equalise with only their second attack. With 32 minutes on the referee's watch, Sidney Lammens and Marc Hocher stretched the Blades defence and Dirk-Jan Derksen placed a side-footer into the corner of Paddy Kenny's net.
After the break, though, United dominated and Helmond, who operate in the Dutch second division, had no answers.
Substitute David Carney did well to help create a chance but Billy Sharp shot wide on 54 minutes, whilst seconds later the Blades went back in front. Stead beat three players in the penalty area to create space for himself and his powerful shot squirmed under the body of the home goalkeeper. Stephen Quinn, who had struck a post in the first half, added United's third goal on 67 minutes. He gratefully accepted the space afforded to him following Sun Jihai's throw-in and smashed, left-footed, past the hapless van Westerop.
United's fourth and final goal, arrived on 83 minutes and Stead was again involved. The striker robbed Peter Uneken and, under pressure, the Helmond captain turned the ball beyond his own goalkeeper.
Assistant boss Sam Ellis said: "It was a good team effort, we have a great ethic, but Jon Stead had, by far, his best game since we have been at the club. Take out his goals and it was still a good performance from him."
It was United's third successive win on the tour, which included a 3-2 victory over Ferencvaros in Hungary and a 3-1 success over KVK Tienen.
CLICK ON THE GREEN PLAY ICON ABOVE TO SEE MORE PICTURESHelmond: van Westerop, Lammens, Paardekooper, Uneken, Suart, van Leerdam, Derksen, Lettinga, Vandermieren, Guijo-Velasco, Hocher. Subs: Habraken, Hikspoors, Chida, Jansen, Roma, Strijbosch, Hendriks, van de Gevel, Bronzwaer.
Blades: Kenny, Geary (Sun Jihai 63), Morgan (Ehiogu 63), Kilgallon, Naysmith (Naughton 80), Halford (Gillespie 45), Speed (Hendrie 68), Tonge (Carney 45), Quinn, Sharp, Stead. Subs: Bennett, Armstrong, Montgomery, Webber.
What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 535 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
