Jamie Ward netted on his return to Chesterfield as United completed another pre-season victory.

The pint-sized striker netted with a penalty after he was hauled down in the second half of Wednesday's friendly. Leigh Bromby had given the Blades the lead with a neat finish in the first period.

Many Blades fans made the short trip across the Derbyshire border to swell the Saltergate crowd to 3,744.

Left-back Taylor made his first appearance in a Blades shirt and trialists Gray and Little were handed another chance to shine. Against his former team, Ward was named on the bench. Chesterfield included former Blades Page and Lester in their starting line-up.

Little put in the first notable cross of the game but Page used his experience to keep out Robertson and Bromby fired over when the ball dropped to him on the edge of the box.

The opening was pretty low-key but the game sparked into life on 21 minutes when the Blades grabbed the lead. Little's corner was not cleared and this time an unmarked BROMBY fired into the corner of the net from 12 yards. Chesterfield's response was a Harsley shot, which was wide and a Lester header, which was plucked from under the crossbar by Bennett.

United were putting together a couple of good moves and goalkeeper Lee was forced to turn the ball over the crossbar from Howard's header and then Montgomery latched on to a Little through ball but could not steer the ball goalwards. The last action of the half saw Bennett beat away a shot from Currie - nephew of Tony.

Kevin Blackwell resisted the urge to make changes at the break, although his Chesterfield counterpart, John Sheridan made five substitutions. Soon after, though, Ward was given a warm welcome by the home fans when he was introduced for Sharp and instantly fired the first shot of the half, which was well held by Lee.

Boss Blackwell had just made a number of changes before the second Blades goal was added. Bennett's long kick put Ward in the clear before he was bundled over the area by Hall. WARD dusted himself off before netting another Saltergate goal from the penalty spot, sending Lee the wrong way.

Goodall and Britton combined to set up a weak shot from Bowery and then Hall fired wide from a corner as Chesterfield looked to hit back.

In the final 15 minutes Quinn fluffed a free header from Cotterill's corner and then Ward missed the target when free on goal after a piece of magic from Hendrie, who turned and played a pinpoint pass in one movement.

Bowery was unable to take advantage when United failed to clear a corner but it was the last chance for the home side as the Blades wrapped up a deserved victory.

Chesterfield: Lee, Picken, Page (Austin 45), Breckin (Hall 45), G. Robertson (Goodall 45), Harsley (Gritton 45), Gray (Darikwa 68), Niven (Kerry 68), Currie (Boden 45), Lester (Bowery 68), Lowry.
Unused: Malak

Blades: Bennett, Bromby, Morgan, Kilgallon, Taylor (Carney 79), Little (Brown 87), Montgomery (Quinn 61), Howard (Hendrie 61), Gray (Reid 61), Sharp (Ward 55), Robertson (Cotterill 68).
Unused: Haber