The Iron’s youth team drew 2-2 in a home fixture with Chesterfield on Saturday morning.
The team, coached primarily by Paul Harsley in the absence of Tony Daws, who is with the first team squad in Portsmouth, surrendered a two goal lead just after half time before drawing the game.Curtis Bateson got Scunthorpe’s first five minutes before the break at the Northolme, before that lead was extended in the first minute of the second half by Jack Mawson.
That lead was reduced back to one goal shortly after before the Spireites equalised with a quarter of the game remaining.
Scunthorpe had the better chances in the first half, with Curtis Bateson hitting the post after good build-up play. It was the visiting keeper who was in inspired form for this chance, pushing the midfielder’s shot onto the post.
Jack Mawson also went close from a one-on-one, but the keeper smothered the ball when it looked like the deadlock would be broken.
Bateson did break the deadlock on 40 minutes, playing a neat one-two with Levi Sutton before finishing in the bottom right hand corner from 25 yards out.
Bateson was involved again instantly after the interval, picking up the ball on the left hand side before playing in a ball for Mawson, who had the easy mission of doubling the Iron’s advantage.
It could have been three for Scunthorpe soon after though as Kyle Wootton burst through the Spireites defence, one-on-one with the goalkeeper, only for his shot to cannon back into play off of the post.
From there, the visitors got back into the game, reducing the score to 2-1 from a set-piece. After losing the free kick, the youngsters failed to defend their lines, resulting in a headed goal past Ryan Hawley in goal.
The comeback from Chesterfield was complete with around ten minutes of the game remaining following a strike that was deflected past Hawley to ensure both teams took a share of the spoils.
Following that, the game petered out with no real chances presenting themselves to either side – both holding on for a point each.
Coach Paul Harsley said following the result: “It was a good result; the one disappointing aspect was that we did hold onto the lead.”
“Had we extended our lead to 3-0, we would have probably gone on to comfortably see out the game.”
Iron team: Hawley, Cowling, Smythe, Bowskin (Burdett 46), Hare, Hood, Purdue, Sutton, Bateson, Wootton, Mawson (Mosanya 80).
Subs unused: Oliver-Stothard, Weaver.