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Notts County 0 Sheffield United 1 - MATCH REPORT
NOTTS County manager Craig Short used the build up to last night's friendly with Sheffield United to express his gratitude to the visitors, for giving him a route into football management.
But the former Bramall Lane defender, who learned his managerial trade at United's sister club Ferencvaros, had the footballing gods to thank that his team, League Two champions last season, weren't three goals down within the first 10 minutes on a pleasant evening at Meadow Lane.
Kevin Blackwell's United – who included trialist Jean Calve at right back and Kerrea Gilbert on the bench – showed their attacking prowess right from the kick-off when Mark Yeates and new arrival Leon Britton combed well to release Jamie Ward inside the area.
Graeme Lee, however, was on hand to snuff out the danger. Ward then went close again a minute later, and was unlucky not to open the scoring. From another Yeates cross, he looped the ball over home keeper Robert Burch who watched on helplessly as the ball rebounded off his left-hand post and into his grateful arms.
Just before the 15-minute mark Burch was beaten but Johnny Ertls header was disallowed for a push, and at the other end Ben Davies free-kick flashed narrowly wide of Steve Simonsens goal with Lee Hughes lurking.
The ever-industrious Nick Montgomery caught out Neal Bishop on the touchline and released Ward down the right hand side, whose cross in turn found the head of Richard Cresswell. The veteran striker powered a header at goal, only for home captain John Thompson to get his head to the ball and direct it over.
United started the second half much the same as they had the first, with Ward heavily involved. Cresswell released him with an exquisite ball, but the diminutive striker couldn't capitalise and fired high.
The impressive Yeates tested Burch with a 25-yard free-kick, and the former Wednesday goalkeeper was relieved just minutes later when Cresswell fired straight into his arms on the angle.
County were denied what seemed a blatant penalty with 20 minutes to go when Hughes was tripped by Matthew Lowton. But Ched Evans got the winning goal United deserved with five minutes remaining.
A teasing right-wing cross from Kingsley James was nodded back into the path of Welsh international Evans, who marked his return from recent injury trouble with a decisive header.
United: Simonsen (Aksalu, 60), Lowton, Morgan (Kozluk, 60), Ertl (Quinn, 60) Taylor, Britton (Evans, 60), Calve (Roe, 75), Montgomery (James, 60), Yeates (Gilbert, 60), Ward (Chappell, 60), Cresswell (Adams, 60).
Subs not used: None.
Attendance: 2.462, (388 away)
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
