Sheffield United 3 Raging Fever 1

Fever were left frustrated as defensive errors gifted Sheffield United a victory on FA Cup first round day.

After an early start, Fever arrived in Sheffield to find an uphill challenge awaiting them. Not since a visit to Halifax last season have Fever been forced to contend with such a gradient, with one goal substantially closer to sea level than the other. Evidently, northerners will play football in a field, if it means getting a game.

Having selected the team in a service station fast food chain an hour earlier, it is of little surprise that Fever began the match slowly. Fielding three players known only as 'Theo's friends', Paul Soper as emergency goalkeeper (a continuing trend this week at Oxford United) and the shock inclusion of the previously retired Steve Fuller, Fever were perhaps a little unfamiliar with their own.

Despite the impending disappointments, it was Fever who almost took the lead within five minutes. Theo Dominian burst forward from the left flank and after he was upended, the ball ran free for George Dugdale to curl a left-footed effort narrowly wide of the upright.

However, the home side were soon in front. Perhaps using some local knowledge, the home side's big striker anticipated the bounce of the ball on the down slope rather better than Fever's defence. As Soper advanced, The Blades' striker simply lifted the ball over his head to give Sheffield United an early lead.

Disaster followed moments later as the same striker attempted a snap shot from the edge of the area. Soper is usually a reliable goalkeeper, but Asa Hall he ain't. As the ball squirmed under Soper's body, Fever were left with a mountain to climb (until half-time when they would be attacking down the mountain…have I mentioned the pitch had a slope yet?).

These setbacks seemed to wake Fever from their slumber. Geoff Carter infuriated a winger many years his junior by blocking his advances on numerous occasions, whilst Jamie Davies (or Theo's mate, as he is more commonly known) began to get a grip on the middle of midfield.

Shortly before the half hour point, it was the same player who gave Fever a chance to get back into the game. Dominian's cross was only diverted to the edge of the box, where Davies was waiting for the loose ball. A home defender desperately threw his body into the line of the goal-bound effort, but only succeeded where Soper had previously failed, blocking the ball with both hands. Due to the sheer cowardice of the two players who had claimed to want penalty duties during the warm-up, but were nowhere to be seen when the referee awarded one, it was Dugdale who stepped up. Despite scuffing his spot-kick straight down the middle of the goal, the goalkeeper kindly dived out the way to maintain the winger's 100% record from the spot.

Fever were lifted by this goal and continued to press forward in the remainder of the first half. Despite not challenging the keeper, with efforts from Dominian flying wide, Fever were confident of turning the game around in the second half.

Attacking down the hill, Fever began the half in dominant fashion. Dominian and Dugdale missed the target from range, with Nick Wehmeier unable to get the ball under control when well placed. Dugdale even tried to do 'a Leven', but was ridiculed as his effort turned out a little more 'Carlton Palmer'.

Frustratingly, Fever were struggling to turn dominance into attempts on goal and were made to pay midway through the half.

A rare foray into Fever territory gave the home side a corner, from which the ball bounced clear at the back post. As it was volleyed towards goal, Pat Wehmeier inexplicably neglected his duties on the line by ducking, to allow the ball to hit the back of the net. His claims that the sun was in his eyes were quickly rubbished, as the perplexed Fever backline noted the bright morning sunshine beating down a full 180 degrees from where the shot was taken. A bitter blow to Fever's chances in the game, but carrying the consolation of ammunition with which to hammer Wehmeier for the considerable future.

This setback knocked the wind out of the Fever sails, as the home side used their experience to keep the ball in the time remaining. Fever continued to get into good areas on the break, but were let down by a lack of composure in the final third.

As the referee (who deserves credit for breaking with refereeing tradition and actually being very good) blew his whistle for the final time, Fever were left to reflect on what might have been. Defensive errors and sloppiness in the opposition final third certainly cost Fever something from a game in which they could have gained at least a point. The referee bid farewell by awarding his Fever man of the match to Nick Holloway. Following the success of his documentary 'Life's Too Short' with Ricky Gervais, this has been a good week for the centre-back…

Raging Fever: Paul Soper, Andy Clyde, Nick Holloway, Robb Milne, John Spray, Geoff Carter, George Dugdale, Chris Griffiths, Jamie Davies, James Longshaw, Pat Wehmeier, Steve Fuller, Nick Wehmeier, Theo Dominian.

Goal: Dugdale