United's Nathaniel Foster netted and also hit the crossbar in the last five minutes of the junior Steel City derby at Middlewood Road on Friday afternoon.

The powerful striker was just one of a number of impressive performers as United dominated in the second half against the blue half of the city when the Wednesday goal was peppered with chances.

United named a young side - including U16s central defender Kennedy - as coach Kevin Fogg prepares for the FA Youth Cup tie at Hartlepool next week, and the first half was fairly even with both sides creating two chances of note apiece.

For the Blades, Foster and Lammy went close, whilst Wednesday took one of their chances with OLIVER lashing home after the visitors struggled to clear a free-kick on 32 minutes.

The second period, however, was a different affair after Foster angled a ball which invited a tap-in across the Wednesday box within 60 seconds of the restart.

Then followed Gregory heading wide a Williams cross, Foster having a powerful shot pushed away by Cuff and another chance kicked away by the Wednesday goalkeeper.

Captain James then shot wide after a neat control before United and Foster claimed their just reward on 74 minutes. A long clearance was allowed to bounce by Wednesday defender Barnett and FOSTER took advantage, using his power to get into a good position before shooting across the goalkeeper and into the corner of the net.

A free-kick from Murray needed saving by the Wednesday goalkeeper, whilst with five minutes remaining, from Chappell's cross, Foster headed against the crossbar and Gregory hammered the rebound over.

On Wednesday's rare forays into the United area, Harrison half volleyed over and the ball struck Nyoni, forcing Billard into a comfortable save, but it would have been an injustice had the home side snatched a win.

Blades coach Fogg said after the game: "I was pleased with the second half response, we were better than Wednesday both individually and collectively. We created plenty of chances, which was pleasing, but it would have been nice if we had been a bit more clinical in front goal."

Wednesday: Cuff, Eckhardt, Haywood, Harrison, Nyoni, Barnett, Meehan (Cottingham 77), Lacey (Palmer 75), Oliver, Modest, Hall.
Unused: Poulton, Kirkland, Cardwell.

Blades: Billard, O'Kane, Williams, James, Darlow, Kennedy, Wilkinson (Chappell 70), Murray, Foster, Gregory, Lammy.
Unused: Pennycooke-Morgan, Andrew, Ahmadi.