SHEFFIELD United teenager Harvey Cullinan featured as a trialist as Colchester United's under-23s played out a goal-less draw with Watford, writes BRIAN WALLER.
Cullinan, who signed his first professional deal with the Blades last summer, played for Richard Hall's side in their latest Professional Development League clash at a windy Park Drive.
The 19-year-old Irish centre-back joined Sheffield United in 2019 from Newmarket Celtic and had several trials with English clubs, prior to joining the Championship club.
The likes of Billy Cracknell (pictured below), Jake Hutchinson and Sam Cornish, who have all been out on loan at non-league level, also featured for the U's under-23s.
The very testing conditions made constructive football difficult for both sides.
There was an early chance on eight minutes as Kacy Parish fed Kai Redgrave into the Watford box.
But Redgrave slipped over at the vital time and the chance went.
After a foul by Gene Kennedy, Chay Cooper was booked for kicking the ball away.
The best home chance of the half fell to Colchester on 27 minutes, after Redgrave broke well down the right.
He was denied as the keeper saved well from him and blocked Cornish's follow-up effort.
The half ended after Bradley Chakawa and Redgrave combined on the right and from the former's cross, Cooper headed wide at the near post.
Six minutes after half-time, a Sam Cornish cross from the left was helped on by Cooper but the effort by Parish was blocked in the goalmouth.
All three attacking U's substitutes were introduced in the last quarter but still there was not really any decent chances as clearcut opportunities failed to materialise.
Efforts by Kaan Bennett and Bradley Ihionvien did not really troubling the Blades keeper, as the game ended in stalemate.
U's U23: Ted Collins, Bradley Chakawa, Billy Cracknell, Harvey Cullinan, Genaro Maragh, Kai Redgrave, Sam Cornish, Chay Cooper, Gene Kennedy Kacy Parish, Jake Hutchinson. Subs: Bradley Ihionvien, Kaan Bennett, Tom Stagg. Subs (not used): Matt Yates, Jaime Tedaldi.
Colchester's under-18s claimed a hard-earned 2-1 win at Crewe Alexandra, thanks to second-half goals by Kaan Bennett and Bradley Ihionvien.
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