The Blades started their totesport.com league campaign with an impressive success at Port Vale at Vale Park on Monday night.
United, who fielded a youthful line-up consisting mainly of U18s, put in a courageous display against an experienced Vale side that including ex-Blade Geoff Horsfield and deservedly ran out victors with Zeyn S-Latef and Kingsley James on target.
After a quiet opening to the game, the Blades took the lead in the 20th minute. A pinpoint diagonal ball from Brown released Carole, who beat his man, before cutting the ball back for S-LATEF to apply the finishing touch from close-range.
Goalkeeper Billard then made a smart save from Horsfield, but he was powerless in the 35th minute as CHAPMAN scored after Vale had worked an opening though the Blades backline.
It just took five minutes, though, for United's youngsters to rega their lead. After a corner was only half-cleared, Fortune helped the ball into the path of JAMES, who made no mistake from inside the area.
The second-half saw Billard earn his keep on several occasions with a number of timely interventions, whilst at the other end Carole and Foster both had a couple of half-chances to add a third, but the Blades defended resolutely towards the end to net a deserved three points.
After seeing his young side record a notable win, Mark Smith was full of praise for his troops and believes their determination and workrate were behind the success.
Smith also hopes this performance sets the standard over the coming weeks:
"It was an encouraging performance and a great result against a much bigger and more physical side. It was really pleasing how the lads stood up and were counted, as well as how they closed the ball down and worked extremely hard to break up the play.
"They all deserve credit for how they acquitted themselves throughout and that has really set a good marker, which they must try and stay above over the coming months."
Port Vale: Lloyd-Weston, Morsy, Bell (Malbon 64), Griffith, Stockley, Bratt, Richman, Howland, Horsfield, Haldane, Chapman.
Unused: Watson, Osei-Siribour, McGowan.
Blades: Billard, O'Kane, Brown, Wilkinson, Fortune (Slew 75), James, Ahmadi (Lammy 60), Murray, Foster, S-Latef (Gregory 35), Carole.
Unused: Andrew, Pennycooke-Morgan.
