United’s youth team recorded an emphatic 4-1 over Burton Albion on Saturday morning.
In truth, the game could have been postponed following a waterlogged pitch at the original venue of West Street, Winterton, but a suitable replacement was quickly found – with the five goals coming at St Lawrance’s Academy.Starting brightly, the hosts were ahead after just 12 minutes after a series of spells of possession from the Iron, which saw Curtis Bateson unleash a shot on the visiting goalkeeper. That powerful drive was well-saved by the shotstopper, but he could do nothing to save the follow-up – as Noel Burdett raced onto the loose ball to net the opener.
Several chances came and went to double the advantage with the goalkeeper working wonders to keep the scoring down as the Brewers struggled to cope with United’s attacking threats.
The second goal did come before the interval though, on 42 minutes, again after good teamwork and build-up play. United played the ball out from the defence with Bateson again involved, playing an exceptional one-two with Kyle Wootton before the former took the plaudits for a good finish into the bottom corner.
Following the break, United continued their dominant display, extending their lead to three goals on 55 minutes. Good play saw the ball pushed to the wing with Wootton rising highest from the cross to draw yet another good save from the Burton shotstopper – only for Jack Bowskin to react quicker than the defence, powering home the rebound to put the hosts three goals to the good.
There was no let-up from the Iron, although the Brewers did pull one goal back in a brief lapse in concentration just a minute after the goal. The Burton side broke through, with the striker latching onto the ball, rounding Pat Weaver and leaving himself the easiest of missions to reduce the lead back to two goals.
On 76 minutes, the Iron restored their three goal cushion with arguably the goal of the day. Good play, this time down the left wing, saw the ball find Wootton. The target man again claimed an assist, laying the ball back to full-back Zac Cowling – who shot from 30 yards. This time there was no save from the Brewer’s shotstopper as the ball flew straight into the net.
From there, United had chances to extend the lead further, only thwarted by an exceptional performance from the visiting goalkeeper.
Paul Harsley, managing the side, said: “The lads have played really well and they all deserved the win today. They all really enjoyed the game and it was a great team effort.
“Their keeper did pull off some good saves. Our lads showed an excellent attitude and application to the game. We’ve worked really hard over the last two weeks on closing-in and pressing high up the pitch – and then counter attacking when we’ve won the ball.”
He added: “That was the pleasing thing. What we’d been working on had been put into practise and on another day, we could have won by more.”
The Iron’s youth side are next in action next Saturday (February 1) when they entertain a Lincoln City side, with the match played at Gainsborough Trinity’s Northolme Stadium.
Scunthorpe United: Weaver, Cowling, Smythe, Bowskin, Hare, Hood (Oliver-Stothard 75), Burdett, Sutton, Wootton, Mawson (Mosanya 75), Bateson (Purdue 82).
Substitutes not used: Ledger, Wharton.