Sheffield United 5-1 Reading
Bex Rayner stars as the Blades rack up the goals at Bramall Lane
The Blades pulled off their biggest win of the season last weekend, dishing out a 5-1 thumping to struggling Reading in what was the latest edition of the Bex Rayner show. United’s number 9 contributed a pair of assists and a goal of her own, but it was the bits of skill that don’t show up on the scoresheet that really caught the eye – including a delightful double-nutmeg in the first half.
Izzy Goodwin added two more goals after half-time, centre-back Tara Bourne headed in her third in five games and Ash Hodson forced an own goal as the Blades put together one of their more complete performances of the season. The scoreline was perhaps a tad harsh on the visitors, who have now conceded 14 goals in their last three games, but there was little doubt which team was superior throughout.
The Blades, seemingly liberated by three straight home games and the evaporation of any relegation worries, showed a cohesiveness in possession that has only been seen sporadically this season. Building from the back has been the name of the game for United all year but it’s only in the last few weeks that they’ve actually started to look like a well-drilled unit on and off the ball, with a clear idea of how to find passes out of defence and into midfield and attack.
Credit has to go to interim boss Luke Turner for that – along with goalkeeping / set-piece coach Carl Kennedy who once again drew post-match plaudits from the players after yet more set-piece success. Praise, too, should go to defender Molly Graham whose reintroduction to the team has coincided with the Blades’ best defensive run of the season, conceding just two in their last four.
This win was even more impressive given United were without another of their key players, Jodie Hutton, who was suspended after a late yellow card in last week’s match. For all Hutton’s set-piece prowess this season, though, Rayner filled the gap admirably with the key crosses for United’s game-breaking second and third goals.
In the absence of their first-choice left-wingback, the Blades switched to a 4-2-3-1 with Rayner given licence to roam. This gave the Blades plenty of options in midfield as they controlled possession for long spells, although it was notable that Turner switched Bourne and Graham around at half-time – presumably in response to a couple of close-ish calls as Reading tried to break the offside trap.
The ever-versatile Hodson had another good game out on the left, while Rayner and Ella Kinzett once again covered plenty of ground in front of Barker. SofaScore’s average positions for United in this one is revealing, with Newsham (3) and Brown (24) given the opportunity to move into midfield given the security blanket of Bourne and Graham (6 and 5) and United’s control of possession:
The Blades were a more consistent attacking threat than they’ve been in any other game at Bramall Lane this season, registering a whopping 13 shots on target out of the 22 they took. And, although Royals’ keeper Emily Orman had a mixed afternoon between the sticks, the scoreline could have been worse if not for a couple of big stops.
The opening goal capped a beautiful bit of football from United, even if the final touch came off Reading defender Jessie Stapleton. Newsham’s first-time ball was touched off by Goodwin for Hodson, and the winger’s first touch was perfect as she drove into the box. Her pullback was equally on the money and Stapleton turned the ball over the line before the lurking Jess Sigsworth could pounce.
Sigsworth was then giftwrapped a chance as Goodwin – for about the 30th time this season – successfully pressured the opposition keeper whose stray pass found United’s number 7 but she hit a first-time shot over the empty net.
Kinzett curled one straight at Orman after good work by Brown, before Sigsworth picked up a knock and was replaced by Sophie Haywood. With the Blades temporarily down to ten, Reading had the ball in the net but were adjudged to be offside.
Goodwin had a fairly quiet first half by her standards but had a fierce shot saved by Orman after an excellent through ball by Rayner, before the Reading keeper once again showed good hands to catch a Newsham cross-shot that was heading into the far corner.
The Royals had a fantastic chance to equalise as a ball across the six yard box found a free player at the back post, but she put her shot in the one place that gave Fran Stenson a chance to save and the Blades’ keeper obliged.
Rayner’s next highlight was a flick away from two defenders before hitting her shot straight at Orman, and then Hodson curled one a couple of yards wide after a great run – again released by Rayner.
That meant it was somehow only 1-0 at half-time – although Reading did have another goal chalked off – and the visitors actually started the second period more strongly by winning a string of corners. Only seven minutes passed, though, until the Blades did finally get their second. Rayner swung in a freekick from deep, Bourne escaped her marker and her low header went straight through a stranded Orman who seemed to lose the ball in the spring sunshine.
United clearly sensed more goals, and Goodwin had one blocked after a good run before Haywood curled a shot at the keeper. Goodwin was then put in on goal by her strike partner but the Blades’ top-scorer uncharacteristically scuffed her shot and Orman kicked away.
In spite of the onslaught, Reading pulled a goal back with a perfect counter-attack. An excellent ball by Keira Flannery found Jess Woolley with space outside of Newsham, and her ball across to Madison Perry was flawless – the Reading number 9 finished easily albeit through a pair of pigeons, whose presence in Stenson’s goalmouth reflected how little of the half had taken place near it.
As if irritated by the concession, the Blades went straight back on the attack. Haywood was convinced she’d been pulled down inside the six yard box but within five minutes United made it 3-1 anyway. Rayner once again swirled in a dangerous freekick, and Orman made a poor decision to come off her line only for Goodwin to loop a header into the back of the empty net.
Moments later it was 4-1, as Hodson’s smart backheel forced a corner and United took it short – a canny bit of play given that the Royals were down to ten players at the time. Newsham miskicked an effort on the edge of the box but the ball bounced back to Rayner who hit a strong shot from 20 yards that Orman spilled. Brown reacted first and her pullback was turned in from close range by Goodwin.
That made it 14 league goals for Goodwin this season, putting her level with Palace’s Elise Hughes – although the Blades striker would take the Golden Boot award as it stands by virtue of an extra assist. It’s been a ludicrous return for Goodwin, who is averaging a goal every 110 minutes in what is her first full season of senior football (she also has another three goals from the FA Cup win over Rugby Borough).
(I ended up writing a bit more about Izzy Goodwin here but it got to about 800 words before I even blinked, so I’ve decided to hold that – and flesh it out a bit more – for the upcoming international break).
Reading made a triple change soon after but Rayner put the seal on things in the 81st minute. She once again beat her marker out wide, and her cross from close to the byline took a nick off the defender and drifted over the keeper and inside the far post. Orman undoubtedly should have done better with United’s second and third goals but having lived through Robin Olsen for the men’s team I have some sympathy with this one.
The Reading keeper then saved well from Kinzett’s first-time volley, requiring a second effort to claw the ball away from the line. United used up their final four subs as the game ticked towards stoppage time, with Tamara Wilcock, Chene Muir, Charley Doherty and Eva Butler all coming on and Rayner, Goodwin, Brown and Hodson getting deserved applause from the home crowd.
Muir created a chance for herself with a superb nutmeg out wide, and the youngster ran into the box but slipped just as she was about to take it around the keeper. That was virtually the last kick, and the Blades lapped up the ovation from the fans at full-time with relegation now – in case you were wondering – a mathematical impossibility.
London City Lionesses (A), Sunday 31st March 14:00 KO
London City are just a couple of places behind United in the Championship standings, and will have the added motivation of securing their own survival this weekend: defeat for Lewes at Southampton (a pretty likely outcome) would seal it anyway, but a point or three for the Lionesses would also ease any worries.
This is a meeting of two sides in equal form, having both won their last three. London City’s last two wins – over Charlton and league-leaders Sunderland – are every bit as impressive as the Blades recent victories. They also boast a talented forward of their own in the form of Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah: she may only have five goals so far this season, but sits just behind our own Isobel Goodwin for shots per game - a good trait, particularly in a non-elite team.
One stat worth noting is that London City have committed the second-highest number of fouls per game this season. With United having bagged four set-piece goals in their last three games, the likes of Jodie Hutton (if selected) and Bex Rayner will be licking their lips at the prospect of another deadball assist.
What a week and a half eh! Another very enjoyable game, and great to see the rest of the team in and around the box this time. I can't make the last game of the season, so that's it for me.. I'm now worrying if it's the last I'll see of Goodwin, Bourne, etc in a Blades shirt, hopefully not. We have such a high turnover every summer, hopefully some stability now we're full time? I'll leave that conversation for the end of the season....