Notts County 0-1 Sheffield United
(Evans 87)
Attendance: 2462
A late strike from Ched Evans prevented Notts County from remaining undefeated against higher league opposition this pre-season. His 87th minute drive was the decisive goal in a tough evening for Craig Short's team.
The Blades made their intentions clear from the off, immediately looking to charge forward. Jamie Ward found space eight yards out to strike but Liam Chilvers blocked well.
Mark Yeates on the left flank looked to be a certain threat and almost grabbed the opener on seven minutes. Skipping past a number of defenders with some tight-knit dribbling, he looked to be in, but Rob Burch rushed out well to gather at his feet.
Richard Cresswell did have the ball in the net for United. However, the goal was ruled out for a foul on Burch, who had been pushed, leading him to spill a cross from the right.
Notts' first chance came on 17 minutes as a result of a Ben Davies free kick. Lee Hughes rose to deter the goalkeeper and the ball skimmed past the foot of the far post.
The visitors continued to look the most likely to break the deadlock and a Ward centre from the right almost did so. Directing across the goalmouth, Graeme Lee and Burch met and somehow managed to scramble the ball away.
Hughes had a second opportunity with his head as the game edged towards half time. Neat work from John Spicer led to Westcarr whipping in a tempting ball that Hughes glanced well wide of the target.
In a sharp attack at the other end, Ward, after being threaded in by Leon Britton down the right, cut back into the path of Richard Cresswell. His shot look destined to hit the roof of the net but Lee's brave headed flick guided it over the bar.
Short's side looked sharper after the break, eagerly attempting to drive forward. Westcarr dribbling down the right, whipped in a teasing, low centre that had the United defenders panicking as they tried to hack clear - away from the lurking Hughes and Burgess.
Davies came close with a back post-aimed free kick. Although his intentions appeared to be a cross, he came close to hitting the top-left corner.
Following a delightful, diagonal pass from Cresswell, Ward was presented with the best chance of the game to this point. Despite having time to settle, he managed to somehow fire over, into the Kop Stand behind the goal.
Despite not being tested on that occasion, Burch was called into action moments later. Mark Yeates' free kick from 25 yards looked to find the corner but the stopper stooped well to thump away.
Burch was called upon once more on the 60 minute mark following a rare misplaced pass by Davies. Substitutes Kerrea Gilbert and Evans combined, with the latter forcing Burch to palm away.
In another breakthrough Burch made his finest stop of the evening, this time from another substitute, Jordan Chappell. First blocking his placed effort with a sharp, reflex save, he managed to save again from Gilbert, before the ball was scrambled away to calls for a penalty.
It was on 87 minutes that United finally found the back of the net, Evans the goal scorer. Philip Roe nodded down a cross perfectly for the striker to smash into the top-right corner from 12 yards out - tarnishing a stunning performance by the Notts stopper.
The Blades were certainly the strongest of the sides that have visited Meadow Lane this pre-season. Despite this, Notts battled hard and hopes remain high heading into the opening game of the season on August 7.
Notts County: Burch, Thompson, Hunt, Lee, Bishop, Westcarr, Hughes, Burgess, Davies, Spicer, Chilvers.
Subs From: Nelson, Edwards, Ravenhill, Gillespie, Hawley, Harley, Pearce.
Sheffield United: Simonsen, Montgomery, Morgan, Ertl, Britton, Yeates, Calve, Taylor, Cresswell, Ward, Lowton.
Subs From: Aksalu, Gilbert, Evans, Kozluk, Adams, Quinn, James, Roe, Chappell.
