Martyn Woolford: Netted his first Blades goal in the defeat at home to Colchester United.
Sheffield United's start to September begun in the formidable Football League Trophy with teams competing from the two lower Divisions from the Football League, separating teams from the North and the South. It is a competition which United have never reached the final but in an attempt to lifting the trophy the Blades were firstly drawn against Hartlepool United for the third consecutive season. The Blades took an early lead through Ryan Flynn but Scott Fenwick netted shortly after half-time, drawing the game 1-1. Under competition rules no extra-time was played out with the game going straight to penalties. United were successful in advancing to the next round, winning 4-3 on spot-kicks.
With the exception of an opening day defeat to the hands of Gillingham, the Blades made good stead to the new season. But all that hard work and positive results soon turned to dust as back to back defeats at home to Bury and then Colchester United, both within the space of four days with perhaps the latter defeat being the more difficult with Billy Sharp missing a late opportunity from the spot to level the game.
Hartlepool United 1-1 Sheffield United (Won 4-3 on penalties)
Tuesday, 1st September 2015 - JPT Round 1
Sheffield United reached the Second Round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after securing victory at League Two side Hartlepool United. Ryan Flynn, making his first appearance of the season, scored after only 6 minutes. In the second half Fenwick (50) levelled for the home side, and with the scores locked at 90 minutes, the game went to penalties. George Long was the hero, he saved two spot kicks as the Blades went through 4-3 and will face Nott's County at Bramall Lane in the next round.
Sheffield United 1-3 Bury
Saturday, 12th September 2015 - League One
Sheffield United suffered their first home defeat of the season as second-half goals from Tom Pope, Joe Riley and Leon Clarke gave Bury a 3-1 win at Bramall Lane. Billy Sharp scored a penalty for the hosts after Pope had broken the deadlock, but the Shakers rallied with two late goals and extended their unbeaten run on the road to 15 games. Conor Sammon's close-range header from Jamal Campbell-Ryce's cross forced a fine save from Rob Lainton early on.
United's Louis Reed then sent a curling free-kick just wide of Lainton's left-hand post. Lainton saved shots from Sammon and Martyn Woolford while Neill Collins headed off-target and Sharp wasted a great chance, lifting the ball over the ball from around 12 yards out. Bury took the lead against the run of play when the home defence failed to clear and with goalkeeper Mark Howard off his line, Danny Mayor squared to substitute Pope who found the net with ease in the 61st minute.
Twelve minutes later United equalised through a Sharp penalty after the striker was tripped just inside the area by Reece Brown. Bury regained the lead with seven minutes to go when beat Howard with a stunning long-range drive. And Clarke added a third in stoppage time, coolly lobbing Howard after Jay McEveley's slip.
Sheffield United 2-3 Colchester United
Tuesday, 15th September 2015
Colchester recorded their first victory of the season, winning 3-2 at Sheffield United in an action-packed clash at Bramall Lane. The U's took an early lead when Marvin Sordell slipped the ball through to George Moncur, who beat keeper Mark Howard with a low shot in the sixth minute. Moncur put the visitors further in front 18 minutes later, receiving the ball from Owen Garvan before firing past Howard.
Billy Sharp pulled a goal back with a twice taken penalty after Gavin Massey tripped Jay McEveley inside the area six minutes after the restart. After Marc McNulty and Sharp both went close, Martyn Woolford equalised after finding space inside the area and drilling a low shot past Jamie Jones just after the hour. Sordell made it 3-2, beating Howard with a deflected shot, before there was late drama as Colchester's George Elokobi was sent off for denying Sharp a goalscoring opportunity, but Jones came to his side's rescue to preserve their lead, saving Sharp's resulting penalty with just two minutes of normal time remaining.