The Iron’s development side lost 5-1 to a very strong Notts County side at the Hawthorns on Tuesday.
Kyle Wootton put United ahead in the first half, before the Magpies hit back before the break. Their more experienced outfit then took control in the second half before putting the result beyond doubt with three late goals.
Joe Anyon began the game in goal, with Charlie Goode leading the back four with three first year scholars in Lewis McMichael, Lewis Butroid and Fortunate Sithole. Dave Syers, Levi Sutton, Hakeeb Adelakun and Noel Burdett were in midfield, while Kyle Wootton and Luke Williams led the attack.
With former loanee Jimmy Spencer in the starting line-up for Notts County, the visitors went straight on the attack from kick-off with Anyon punching clear with the striker looming.
On six minutes, Anyon made a fine save from De Silva as the play spread to him after a Scunthorpe attack. Anyon advanced and saved well, blocking the ball for a corner.
A minute later Adelakun ran at the Magpies’ defence before playing the ball to McMichael, who fired an effort just wide of the mark. Williams fired a free-kick wide moments later.
Eighteen minutes in and Anyon was called into action against with Amevor clean through. He slotted the ball seemingly under the United shotstopper, but he somehow thwarted the ball from entering the net after collapsing on top of it.
It was just over sixty seconds later that the Iron took the lead. Adelakun had a shot from 18-yards out blocked into Wootton’s path, with the 19-year-old quick to slot the ball home to give Scunthorpe the lead.
The lead didn’t last long though, with parity restored by Blair Adams two minutes later. Butroid defended superbly the initial attack, but full back Adams retrieved the ball and fired past Anyon from the left.
Veteran goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington was drawn into a fine save from Adelakun on the half hour, with the shot forcing him low down to his left after impressive build-up play from Syers and Burdett. Syers fired over in United’s next attack moments later after more work from Burdett and Wootton.
On 36 minutes, Burdett won a corner which was taken by Williams on the right. Goode looked to have met it with the header but astutely left for Wootton who angled a volley just wide of the mark.
Filip Valencic drilled an effort goalwards moments later for Notts County as they looked to take the lead, but it was well saved by the Iron goalkeeper.
Four minutes before the interval, Pilkington was called into action again to deny Adelakun after a low, hard shot. The attack came after more good play from Burdett who carried the ball from his own half to create the chance.
Notts County had an effort ruled out for offside shortly before half time as Jimmy Spencer found himself in the clear from a cross and headed into the net. The goal was quickly chalked off.
The visitors made one half time switch with Luther Wildin replacing Kyle De Silva – with Anyon called into action moments after the restart to deny Spencer once more.
Pilkington then had to be at his best on 49 minutes to deny Wootton his brace, palming over the bar after brilliant work to get the ball into a shoot-able position.
McMichael and Sithole then defended well as Notts County came forward before Adelakun again brought the best out of Pilkington with a save low to his right after a free-kick had been taken quickly.
Anyon made a double save to deny Spencer and Valencic on 54 minutes, but it was to be a temporary reprieve as the latter put the visitors into the lead moments later. He forced the ball home after the spell of sustained pressure.
On the hour George Barmby and James Dean-Atkinson came on to replace Burdett and Adelakun. Yohan Rutty-Smith then came on for Notts County on 67 minutes, replacing Valencic.
Twenty minutes from time, Spencer hit the outside of the post with a guided header – and perhaps should have made it 3-1. He did that though four minutes later when he capitalised on a mistake to slot past Anyon.
A series of substitutions over the course of the next five minutes saw Sonny Shilling and Matt Stockill come on for Sithole and Williams, while Montel Gibson came on for Colby Bishop for County.
Gibson wasted no time getting on the scoresheet – firing past Anyon from the right-hand-side of the area, before Wildin added gloss to the scoreline moments after Snijders had been replaced by Jordan Aghatise.
IRON: Anyon, Syers, Goode, Butroid, Sutton, Wootton, Williams (Stockill, 79), Burdett (Barmby, 61), McMichael, Adelakun (Dean-Atkinson, 61), Sithole (Shilling, 77).
IRON UNUSED SUB: Ledger.
MAGPIES: Pilkington, Atkinson, Adams, Milsom, Amevor, McKenzie, De Silva (Wildin, 46), Valencic (Rutty-Smith, 67), Spencer, Bishop (Gibson, 76), Snijders (Aghatise, 84).