Scunthorpe United FC

Scunthorpe had to settle for a point with the Boxing Day match at the JD Stadium ending in a similar manner to that of the Wycombe game under two weeks ago.

United had earned a two goal cushion – both strikes from leading-scorer Sam Winnall, who was then sent off innocuously following celebrations of his second. Bury pulled one back on 73 minutes through former Iron loanee and Chris Sedgewick then broke Iron hearts with five minutes of added time played as Nardiello sidefooted beneath Slocombe to earn Bury a point.

Russ Wilcox named the same squad that saw off Morecambe on Saturday as his first selection as permanent manager of Scunthopre United, having been appointed on a 12-month rolling contract on Christmas eve.

Scunthorpe's opening spell wasn't one of finesse to match the Morecambe display last weekend as both sides scrapped for a foothold as well as with a poor playing surface, pitted with divots.

It was the Iron, however, who did go on to create the first chance in the game. On ten minutes, leading goalscorer, Sam Winnall was allowed space on the edge of the box to dink towards Burton. The form man shielded possession then flicked over his marker to find Syers bursting from midfield. Syers chested, then worked onto his left on the half-volley but couldn't finish under pressure from Edjenguele; scooping over from close range.

The Shakers responded in kind with a good chance of their own. A burst down the left saw Nardiello past Ribeiro and into the penalty area. His strike partner - former Preston man and short term Iron loanee Chris Sedgewick, seeming not to react to the chance, passed up the opportunity to tap home after Nardiello's near-perfect ball across the face. A definite let-off for United.

On twenty minutes, the Iron had garnered a little more of the ball for a spell. Winnall lashed over after being teed up on the edge of the box. Bury, though, would not let Scunthorpe settle completely, responding once more to Iron pressure. With twenty one minutes on the clock the hosts created another guilt-edged sight of goal, falling once more to Sedgewick. A combination of Mayor and Nardiello down the left edge of the United penalty area saw the Shakers to the byline and into a crossing position. The ball crept across the face and was only half-cleared, landing at the feet of Sedgewick at the back post. With time and space, the striker found only the travelling Iron faithful with his skied effort.

The game continued in the same end-to-end vein as Hawkridge then came close following a quick break down the right. The winger cut inside onto his left foot and curled towards Jensen's goal from the edge of the 'D'. The big Dane showed he's still more than capable at 38 with a fingertip at full-stretch, diverting onto the post.

Continued end-to-end action meant it was only a matter of time before one of the sides managed to land a meaningful blow, coming on 37 minutes. Deon Burton forced Edjenguele into a poor headed clearance then fed Hawkridge on the overlap after picking up the pieces. The winger shimmied inside his man, into the box and prodded towards Winnall for the striker to glance home with a flick of the boot at the near post.

Despite the breakthrough, the Iron were still unable to command proceedings -  David Flitcroft's men ensured that with their work rate. But for their wastefulness in-front of goal, the hosts would at least be level at the break. Danny Mayor's drive at the end of the first period, narrowly past the post, exemplified the root of Bury's issues, in this game at least.

At the start of the second half, Flitcroft withdrew Edjenguele, whose mistake led to United's opener, in favour of ex Sheffield Wednesday defender Richard Hinds. This didn't seem to shore up the hosts any as the Iron got beyond the home back line several times in the first twenty minutes of the second half. Hakwridge's break into the box was the most threatening. Right-back Gareth Roberts was forced into dealing with the winger, ending up with Hawkridge grounded inside the penalty area. Referee Eltringham waved away half-protests from the Iron.

Bury continued to be masters of their own demise with several poor pieces of play in possession gifting United opportunities going forward. Winnall nipped in to steal from Howell and beyond Cameron but after seemingly being felled, the striker was booked for simulation.

Two minutes later, on the hour, Scunthorpe were reminded that the hosts were far from out of it at just 0-1. Sedgewick played his way down the Iron right, fizzing a low ball across Slocombe's goal. Iron bodies were there though, clearing the threat. As if reminded of the precarious scoreline by this attack, United then went some way to putting things beyond Bury. On 66 minutes, Dave Syers broke from midfield, hurdling two challenges before playing a ball across the 6-yard box with the outside of his right for Winnall to poke home his second of the game before Jensen could get there, much to the delight of Russ Wilcox, Tony Daws and the Iron faithful.

Following the celebrations in-front of the travelling Scunthorpe support, Winnall received a second yellow which can seemingly only come down to a discrepancy with his personal celebration after his second goal.

Bury were spurred on by the turn of events and took advantage of a change in their fortunes. Ashley Grimes, just introduced as a 71st minute substitute, forced a strong hand away from Slocombe at full-stretch. The rebound fell to Sedgewick at a tight angle and this time, the striker did make it count, striking low across the face through a huddle of bodies and into the bottom right corner of Sam Slocombe's net with 73 minutes played.

The tides had turned and with fifteen minutes plus added time still to be played, the Iron looked desperate to avoid a repeat of the Wycombe result. Matt Godden was introduced in place of Deon Burton but soon went down injured after a crunching tackle on half way, leaving the Iron with nine effective players to see out the final five minutes.

United staved off the home side and multiple waves of attacks until the clock ticked over to the final minute of five added on. Danny Nardiello broke clear of the United defence after a good ball from midfield, slotting through Slocombe's legs with the final kick of the game to give Scunthorpe that sickening Wycombe feeling twice in under two weeks.

TEAM LINE-UPS
Bury: Jensen, Roberts (Grimes, 71), Cameron, Proctor, Miller, Sedgwick, Harrad, Mayor, Nardiello, Howell, Edjenguele (Hinds, 45).
Substitutes not used: Forrester, Holden, Harrison, Charles-Cook, Walker.

Scunthorpe United: Slocombe, Ribeiro, Mirfin, Canavan, Nolan, Hawkridge (Adelakun, 64), Williams, Syers, McAllister (Boyce, 72), Burton (Godden, 83), Winnall.
Substitutes not used: Iwelumo, Esajas, Severn, Waterfall.

Attendance: 3,277 (477 away).