Sean Gordon netted an opening day hat-trick as United's Academy were forced to settle for a draw against West Brom on Saturday.

The pacey forward struck after 40 and 52 minutes to put United 2-0 up, but the Blades went 2-3 down before Gordon equalised on 75 minutes to earn the Blades a share of the spoils.

United opened the scoring at Shirecliffe in the 40th minute when Tahar's clever through ball saw GORDON burst away from the visitors' defence and coolly pass the ball into the back of the net.

The home side threatened to run riot as they made it 2-0 after 52 minutes. Boden intercepted a pass across the Baggies' defence and he fed GORDON who fired a left-foot shot into the bottom corner.

A handball in the box on 57 minutes saw the Albion pull a goal back via the penalty spot. The visitors drew level seven minutes later through a free header at the back post.

Albion edged their noses in front for the first time in the contest when they scored a third goal in the 73rd minute - however, United hit back just two minutes later.

Askham's run and threaded pass saw GORDON advance into the Baggies' box before dispatching a clinical finish under the goalkeeper to level the scores at 3-3.

Coach Scott Sellars said the match highlighted both positives and negatives for United.

He said: "As the scoreline suggests, we were a bit up and down - we were good at times, especially in the final third, but poor at times defensively.

"It was disappointing that we stopped playing when we were 2-1 up, but the lads showed a lot of character to come back and make it three apiece. It was a fantastic performance from Sean Gordon."

Blades Academy: Ho Lee, Smith, Reid, Booker (Hague 78), Chanot, Walker, Askham, Tahar, Gordon, Boden (Senicanin 81), Yates (Okoko 72).
Unused: Furniss, Roberts.