It was an afternoon of typical British football weather at the Technique Stadium in Chesterfield as Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers battled it out in the wind, rain and mud. In the end, it was the home side who were victorious, scoring four with no reply.
Blackburn applied early pressure, but it was Sheffield who took the lead with just six minutes played. Maddy Cusack’s inswinging corner was met by a combination of bodies in the box and United’s Ellie Wilson and Courtney Sweetman-Kirk were there to help the ball over the line.
For the majority of the first half the game was very end to end. Both teams enjoyed spells of possession but neither had any clear cut chances in front of goal.
Just before half-time the Blades doubled their lead. Maddy Cusack was once again the provider as she swung her free-kick into the box. The initial shot was punched away by Rover keeper Alex Brooks but Georgia Robert was on hand to head in the rebound from close range.
Rovers went close early in the second half. Half-time substitute Ellie Leek picked up the ball on the edge of the box and sent her show towards goal. It flew over the head of Blades keeper Fran Kitching before clattering off the crossbar.
With 65 minutes played the home side extended their lead to three. Rhema Lord-Myers’ shot from the edge of the box had a clear path to the back of the net after she found herself in space.
With less than five minutes to go the Blades put the game to bed. Lucy Watson’s left-footed strike sailed under the diving keeper Eleanor Heeps, a half-time substitute for the away side, and hit the back of the net.
The home side took all three points after Rovers were unable to take their chances in front of goal. This takes Sheffield United into seventh with 20 points while Blackburn remain in tenth.
Sheffield United: Kitching, E. Wilson (Miller 70), Robert, Lipka (Taylor 85), Sweetman-Kirk (Enderby 79), Cusack, Watson, Paul, Lord-Mears, Bradley-Auckland, Walters.
Unused subs: N. Wilson, Clarke, Rolandsen, Sharrocks.
Blackburn Rovers: Brooks (Heeps 46’), Dixon, Mcdonald, Richards, Coan, Fenton, Bourne, Crompton (Thomas 46’), Blanchard, Hornby (Leek 46’), Jordan (C) (Hodgson 85’)
Subs not used: Seed, Cunningham, Chandarana & Coleman-Evans
Photo: Sport Image / Sheffield United
