Goals from Curtis Bateson and a penalty from Jamie Wootton saw the Iron’s reserve team run out comfortable 2-0 winners away to Hull City Tigers, at North Ferriby United’s Grange Lane.
A high octane game from start to finish which saw both sides strike the woodwork will surely leave Scunthorpe the happier of the sides.Impressive performances from Jordan Clark and Jamie Wootton could also leave first team manager Brian Laws with a selection headache in the build-up to Saturdays League Two clash with Dagenham & Redbridge at Glanford Park.
The Tigers kicked off and the game began fairly lively and fast paced. A few early free kicks were given away by both sides, as the teams sought t feel each other out. Jamie Wootton, Iron’s number 10 managed to get an early cross in from the right flank that was easily cleared by City’s defence.
Moments later, Hull replied with a cross from their own right flank, met by the Tigers centre forward and headed into the ground wide of the goal.
The game continued in a similar fashion, with lots of scrappy pieces of play. The Tigers managed a short spell of pressure inside the Iron half, and after lots of intricate passes a cross was sent arrowing into the United box, that was met with a towering header from United centre half Luke Waterfall.
After 10 minutes of scrappiness, the match died down a bit, until after 13 minutes Iron left winger Curtis Bateson found himself on the left hand side of the Tigers box, cut onto his right foot and fired a shot off straight at City’s keeper Joe Cracknell. A great 30 yard pass across the centre of the pitch from Iron’s number 8 Luke Hornsey saw a lofted ball from Taron Hare just fly over the leaping Kyle Wootton.
Wootton then played a neat one two with Bateson who ran through down the left and saw a left footed shot whistle a foot over the Hull goal. Hare once again found space on the right to flight a great pass over the Tigers defence to Jamie Wootton, who shot straight at the keepers legs.
After a cross went untouched through the Iron penalty area, Hakeeb Adelakun found himself trying to weave past Conor Townsend, the Tigers left back, and won a corner for his troubles. Unfortunately for the Iron the corner was headed away to safety.
A neat run in the 26th from Iron loanee Jordan Clark followed by a lofted ball onto the chest of Kyle Wooton saw another wild effort fly over the Hull bar from Bateson. Bateson was then found just inside the Tigers half in the 28th minute, closed in on the box, cut onto his right and swung a great ball to the back post for Adelakun to hit a cushioned volley onto the post. Easily the best chance of the match so far.
Moments later Severn was brought into making his first save of the game as Tigers centre forward Dan Chambers robbed Luke Hornsey midway inside the Iron half and hit a shot low to Severn’s right, bringing a smart save from the keeper.
36 minutes down and Howe, captain for the night, was judged to have pushed Tigers striker Paul McElroy in the back on the edge of the box. Connor Townsend took the resulting freekick, a left footed drive that took an impressive diving save from Severn to push around the post. The following Tigers corner was cleared at the first attempt.
More great wing play down the left from Jordan Clark for the Iron saw a pinpoint cross met by the head of Jamie Wootton, and Cracknall in the Tigers goal had to get down to the ground sharply to stop the ball sneaking in the bottom corner and the deadlock being broken. No further action before half time saw the times head into the break with the scores 0-0. The Iron definitely had the better half.
The only change at half time saw the Tigers replace left winger Armstrong and replaced him with number 13 Jake Simpson. Straight away the Tigers attacked, and struck the post through Matty Dixon. A cushioned chest down from Chambers set up a left footed strike from the midfielder, who’s attempt crashed into the outside of the left hand post.
Tigers number 10 McElroy attacked down the left wing in the 53rd minute, and wasn’t closed down before he hit a powerful but harmless shot a foot over the angle of Severn’s goal. Adelakun and Bateson switched wings for the second half, a move that saw the former get more of the ball in the early exchanges of the half.
The following 10 minutes saw the game fall into a repetitive pattern, with both teams having good spells of possession and knocking the ball around nicely, but neither able to create any chances. 66 minutes down and the deadlock was finally broken. Curtis Bateson saw himself played through on the age of the box by the impressive Clark, and a neat left footed finish put the Iron 1-0 up.
The Tigers instantly responded and Chambers found a loose cross six yards from goal. He chested the ball and volleyed from point blank range but put too much power on it and watched the ball fly over the bar. In the 69th minute Iron goalscorer fell badly and rolled over on his ankle, which saw the physio come on and play stop.
Both teams took the opportunity to bring on fresh legs in the 71st minute – the Iron’s injured Bateson being replaced by number 14 Conor Smythe, and Hull replacing midfielder Scott Canham with Will Aimson.
In the 78th minute the Iron’s most impressive player on the night Jordan Clark, on loan from Barnsley, managed to create some space on the edge of the box and fire a thundering effort at the Hull goal. With the keeper beaten, the only thing that stopped him from doubling United’s lead was the crossbar, and the shot cannoned off the woodwork and back into play.
In the 88th minute a poor kick out from Iron keeper saw Tigers number 14 Canham fire a left footed drive low to Severn’s right. Severn made up for his error by matching the shot and tipping the ball around the post. Nothing came from the resulting corner.
A minute later, a long ball from Clark went over the top for Jamie Wootton to chase and saw him get in behind the Tigers defence, knock the ball past the keeper and be scythed down in the process. Stone wall penalty. After picking himself up and dusting himself off, Wootton stepped up to take the penalty, confidently sweeping the ball low to the keepers right. Cracknall in goal guessed the wrong way, and the Iron striker doubled his sides lead. 2-0 the score.
The closing stages saw the Tigers defence begin to get frustrated, and give away silly and needless freekicks. Some neat footwork from Iron left back George Grayson in the final seconds saw Clark again release Kyle Wootton, who was unfortunately offside.
That turned out to be the final action of the match, and the Iron can surely be happy with a good performance, two goals and a clean sheet.
TEAM LINE-UPS
Scunthorpe United: James Severn; Taron Hare, Luke Waterfall, Callum Howe, George Grayson; Hakeeb Adelakun, Jordan Clark, Luke Hornsey, Curtis Bateson (Conor Smythe, 71); Kyle Wootton, Jamie Wootton.
Unused subs: Levi Sutton, Pat Weaver, Billy Beresford, Jacob Hood.
Hull City Tigers: Joe Cracknall; Sam Topliss, Conor Townsend, Dougie Wilson, Will Aimson; Matty Dixon (Jake Simpson 71), Calaum Jahraldo-Martin, Max Clark, Daniel Chambers; Paul McElroy, James Armstrong (Jake Simpson 45).
Unused subs: Rory Watson, Jack Barlow, Ben Clappison.