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Saturday 16th July - Frickley Athletic  2-3  Sheffield United Reserves

The Blues opened their pre-season account with a narrow defeat to a fairly strong Sheffield United XI who included 4 first team squad members, including Alan Quinn and Paul Shaw.

Gary Marrow included several triallists in the Blues' squad with Craig Robinson (from Stocksbridge PS) and Brad Roberts starting at right and left full-back positions whilst Matt Wilkinson partnered Dean Foley in the centre of the defence. Ryan Golden (ex Halifax Town)started down the left of midfield whilst new signing Alex Callery played down the right.

The game was only 14 minutes old when Dean Foley was forced off through injury and was replaced by Steve Kennedy. Minutes later the visitors had their first effort at goal but Billy Sharp's angled 20 yard drive was pushed around the post by Gary Ingham. However, 2 minutes later Sheffield United took the lead when a cross from the right was dragged behind the Blues' defence for the onrushing Paul Shaw whose shot came back off the left hand post only to fall kindly for Shaw to tap into an empty net from close range. On 25 minutes United's Evan Horwood dragged an angled shot across the face of Ingham's goal before Kennedy went close for the Blues but his header from Golden's corner flew over the bar. The Blues went even closer just before half time when Callery played the ball forward for Ashley Scothern who got goal-side of a defender and lobbed the outrushing Jamie Annerson only for the ball to drop agonisingly wide of the right hand post.

Gary Marrow made numerous changes at half time, introducing Leroy Chambers, Andy Evans, Steve Robinson, Martin Woolford (from Glasshoughton, I think) and Shaun Roulson for Richard Tracey, Craig Robinson, Scothern, Golden and Wilkinson.

Unfortunately, the visitors increased their lead on 56 minutes when an initial shot was deflected off the bar and Billy Sharp scored from close range. However, the Blues showed they weren't going to be beaten without a fight when Evans controlled Chambers' cross from the left before turning to volley inches over the bar on 64 minutes. Seven minutes later EVANS latched onto a ball over the defence to lash an unstoppable shot past Annerson to reduce the arrears. But, the joy was short-lived as on 75 minutes United scored a third when a cross from the right was glanced in at the near post past Ingham. Within 4 minutes the Blues reduced the arrears again when the returning Scorthern saw his deep cross headed back across goal by Woolford for CHAMBERS to tap into an empty net.