Rob Hulse just missed out on a hat-trick on his return to serious action as he bagged both goals in United's 2-1 Reserve win over Lincoln City - and saw a penalty-kick saved before he had opened his account!

With no first team action at the weekend the Blades team was flooded with experience, but at a cold but calm Don Valley they seldom looked like overwhelming the visitors.

The passing was wayward to begin with until Hendrie threaded the ball through to Hulse after quarter of an hour, but the returning striker struck his shot the wrong side of the right hand post with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Lincoln had the initiative in the middle of the half and Semple hit one firm effort straight at Gerrard and had another deflected for a corner-kick.

United responded with a Hulse header looping over the top, Stead shooting on the half-volley at Duffy and then Sharp seeing his angled shot deflect off a defender on to a post.

Ex Blade Georges Santos, trialling for City at centre-back, stormed to the edge of United's area only to be chopped down by Hendrie who somehow escaped a booking.

Five minutes before the interval a spot-kick was awarded when goalkeeper Duffy raced out and clearly took Hulse down as he advanced but his penalty, hit hard and low, wasn't accurate enough and a smart save was made.

However, in the 58th minute, HULSE made amends, latching on to a defensive error following Alan Quinn's clever chip towards the six yard box, and shooting home from close-range.

Lincoln were not subdued at all and almost immediately produced three worthy efforts in three minutes. Hand's rangy drive flew just too high, Gerrard denied Semple yet again and Ryan wasn't far away from 20 yards.

But the Blades hit them with a second goal after 63 minutes and substitute Donnelly played a big part down the left hand side. His perfectly delivered long ball saw HULSE get past his marker and angle a clinical finish into the net from twelve yards.

Just afterwards he pulled a good chance across goal from Stead's accurate pass, but Lincoln's Ryan then produced a mazy run and stunning drive that smashed against the crossbar.

Gerrard then thwarted the same player but was helpless in the 75th minute when he couldn't deflect a cross far enough away from the danger area and WATT volleyed in to set up an exciting finish.

Coach Ron Reid said: "It was a useful workout for the senior players, and very satisfying to see Rob Hulse come back so well and get on the scoresheet which will be a big boost to him. On the other hand it was very disappointing to lose our two youngest players, Chapman and Naughton, to ankle injuries during the game."

United: Gerrard; Chapman (Donnelly 54), Lucketti, Bromby, Naughton (Ashmore h-t); A Quinn, Hendrie, Horsfield, Stead; Hulse (Wedgbury 69), Sharp.
Unused: Lowton, Oliver.

Lincoln: Duffy, Watt, Warlow (Welburn), Cotton, Santos, Hand, Amoo (John-Lewis_, Clarke, Semple, Ryan, Roddy.
Unused: Baxter, King, Pembleton.