Levi Gallimore scored both goals in an excellent second-half display, as the Iron won their opening game of the Youth Alliance League season in convincing fashion.
Academy manager Tony Daws was delighted with his side’s work, commenting: “I’m really pleased. Chesterfield are one game in front of us (in terms of league matches played) so it was good to measure our fitness.
“I thought our performance overall was very good, particularly the second half, where we got the ball down and passed it and scored a couple of goals. We could have had a couple more.”
The first half was well-contested between both sides, after the game got off to a steady start as the teams adjusted to the testing conditions in Sheffield.
The opening chance fell to the Iron though, with Levi Gallimore picking the ball up on the left wing, cutting back inside, before sending a deep cross to Cameron Wilson. Unfortunately, the wideman couldn’t quite meet the delivery.
In the 16th minute, United came close to breaking the deadlock through Luca Chadli. The winger’s 25-yard free kick tested the home ‘keeper, forcing him to produce a diving save to tip Chadli’s powerful drive.
Ten minutes later, the Spireites had one of their best chances of the game. The forward found himself one-on-one with Iron ‘keeper Tom Collins from an angle, but he managed to get down low to prevent the home side from opening the scoring.
In the 35th minute, Harry Jessop held the ball up well to earn a free kick for his team. This allowed Cameron Wilson to curl an in-swinging ball into the box, which was met by Fin Shrimpton with a deft header that flew narrowly past the far post.
The Iron finished the half strongly with two further opportunities. First, Harry Jessop drove through the heart of the Spireites defence, taking it past three or four players, before having the ball taken away from him by the final remaining defender. Soon after this, Levi Gallimore cut the back to the aforementioned Jessop inside the box. He laid the ball off to Shrimpton, whose goalbound strike was blocked well by the centre back.
The home side got the second half underway, and it was them who created the first real chance of the second period, in the 53rd minute. From right-back, Harry Baker got across well to the opposite flank to get just enough on the cross to divert it away from the head of the arriving Chesterfield midfielder.
After growing into the game, the Iron began to control proceedings which ultimately paid off, as they broke the deadlock in the 59th minute through striker Levi Gallimore. A superb goal created by winger Cameron Wilson, who rolled his marker out wide to deliver a pinpoint ball onto the forward’s foot, and he showed great composure to volley home.
Following this, moments later, the home side almost equalised through an audacious long range strike, which flew past the outside of the left post.
However, on the 67th minute there were huge shouts for a penalty to the Iron, which were subsequently waved away by the referee after the defender looked to have handled the ball inside the box following a blocked shot.
After turning up the pressure, the Iron grabbed their second of the game in the 71st minute, again through Levi Gallimore. This time, Luca Chadli cut inside from the left wing and fired a shot goalwards, but on the edge of the box, Levi Gallimore was there to flick the ball beyond the home ‘keeper, who as a result was sent the wrong way.
Five minutes later, Barks looked to get on the scoresheet from centre-back, as his header was gathered by the Spireites ‘keeper at the far post following a deep cross.
In the 78th minute, Raynner Silva epitomised the Iron’s work rate on the day, as he charged back to regain possession following a quick counter attack from the home side.
Levi Gallimore was unfortunate not to secure a hat-trick in the 82ndminute, as he cracked a powerful strike off the near post from inside the box.
Not satisfied with just the two, the Iron pushed for a third and it was Gallimore again who was extremely unfortunate not to complete his treble, after finding himself in the right place following a save from the Chesterfield ‘keeper, but the defender slid in to prevent a certain goal, which proved to be the final chance of the game.
The Iron U18s face Notts County at home next Saturday.
IRON: Collins, Baker, Lobley, D Gallimore (Kemp, 81), Barks, Silva, Wilson, Shrimpton, L Gallimore, Jessop (Virgo 78’), Chadli (Wilkinson 89’).