Porya Ahmadi and Jordan Chappell both scored twice as United's youngsters beat Crewe 4-2 in their penultimate FA Premier Academy League outing of the season on Saturday.
The Blades produced a dominant display against the Alex, with several of the youngsters impressing from start to finish.
United began the game on the front foot and Murray hit the post inside the opening 60 seconds with a rasping volley, before the visitors took a deserved lead ten minutes in, Murray was instrumental in the build-up and CHAPPELL finished well.
Ahmadi came within a whisker of making it two moments later, before the home side levelled in the 24th minute through CLAYTON. The Blades responded well and three minutes after the equaliser they were back in front. AHMADI spun his marker and kept his composure to score from inside the area.
On the stroke of half-time the Blades added a third goal that their performance warranted and Murray was again the architect. The Irishman's corner was headed down by Maguire and AHAMDI was again on hand to rifle the ball home from close range.
After starting the second half well, a slip handed Crewe a lifeline as POWELL beat Billard to reduce the deficit. United weren't in any mood to let things slip, though, as CHAPPELL entered a contender for goal of the season. From an impossible angle the midfielder produced an audacious chip that deceived everyone before looping into the net.
McFadzean and Kennedy both came close to getting in on the act, before Chappell was denied his hat-trick in the final minute after beating three defenders on a mazy run that started in his own half.
Coach Kevin Fogg was delighted with the win and felt the winning margin could have been even greater: "It was a totally deserved victory and we had enough chances to win three or four matches. Jordan and Porya worked tirelessly for their goals, but it was also pleasing to see first-years like Shane Murray and Ishmael Lammy look somewhere nearly their best.
"Callum McFadzean and Terry Kennedy once again produced mature performances and it is pleasing that next season we should see several of these lads develop from the experiences of this campaign. We have some real talent within the ranks and hopefully the players will develop as we expect them to."
Blades: Billard, O'Kane, McFadzean, Maguire, Kennedy, Darlow, Chappell, Murray, Wilkinson (Gregory 75), Ahmadi (Slew 75), Lammy (Pennycooke-Morgan 75).
Unused: Andrew.
