Serious injuries to Elliott Whitehouse and Kingsley Williams marred United's entertaining draw against Huddersfield Town in the FA Premier Academy League at Shirecliffe.
Carlos Pomares netted his first goal in Blades colours as one of United's youngest ever teams at this level dominated for long periods of the game against the ten-man Terriers, who rescued a point late on through Leigh Franks.
United started brightly with Gregory beating three defenders before shooting wide. Porya Ahmadi was proving a handful up front, whilst Terry Kennedy came close from a Murray corner.
Ahmadi was next to test the Town goalkeeper, before the hosts took a deserved lead in the 25th minute. Some slick passing involving Murray freed POMARES, who fired home.
The home side were looking dominant, but the game threatened to boil over in the space of ten minutes before the interval.
Two dubious challenges saw Whitehouse stretchered from the field with a serious looking leg injury, before his replacement, Kingsley Williams, was also forced off with a suspected fractured cheekbone.
As United looked to keep their discipline in the second half Huddersfield came more into the game with Kennedy and Andrew both doing well to preserve the Blades lead.
At the other end Gregory was denied twice, before a succession of corners from Murray caused problems in the Terriers box, but the home side were unable to add to their advantage.
The Blades were forced to rue that when FRANKS scored directly from a corner in the 85th minute to net the visitors a share of the spoils.
Coach Kevin Fogg was in philosophical mood after the game and admits he is concerned with the two injuries: "I am pleased with our first half performance and young Terry Kennedy was the best player on display, but the game certainly changed after the injuries.
"The Academy is thinking about Elliott and Kingsley and it is unfortunate for both lads. What we must learn though is how to play against ten-men and how to close a game out."
Blades: Andrew, Wilkinson, Pomares, Whitehouse (Williams 35, James 44), O'Kane, Kennedy, Lammy, Murray, Gregory, Ahmadi, Pennycooke-Morgan.
Unused: Slew, Billard, Foster.
