Scunthorpe battled for a 2-1 away win at the Northolme against a dogged and organised Gainsborough Trinity side
The victory made it two wins from two in pre-season.Matt Godden took his tally in pre-season to two goals while Jamie Wootton netted the winner in the second half.
The Iron started the game the brighter of the two sides with much of the early possession. It took seven minutes, though, for either side to force anything through a midfield battle with Trinity winning a corner after strong running onto a ball over the top forced Canavan into poking the ball behind.
Scunthorpe were next to create a chance a couple of minutes later - Jennings with a drive narrowly over the bar after finding space on the edge of the area. United were struggling to keep hold of the ball and Trinity were looking the more assured of the two sides after the game started to settle down. Collins hurriedly cleared a threatening ball across the Iron box and Gainsborough fired a free-kick over.
Gainsborough’s organisation forced the Iron into being more composed on the ball and Jennings’ running after a period of passing gave Scunthorpe a free-kick on the edge of the box. Andy Dawson lined up the effort and struck low, narrowly wide of the right post.
Both sides continued to struggle to gain the initiative in an end to end game. Trinity threatened with a low shot from inside the area but Slocombe was comfortably behind it at his near post. The Iron responded with two corners in quick succession. Former Trinity man Luke Waterfall caused trouble for Gainsborough’s back line from each; first forcing a clearing header and then heading narrowly wide with a looping header across the face of goal.
Scunthorpe then went on to build some pressure. Hawkridge had swapped with Adelakun over to the left hand side of the pitch and became more involved in play. He sparked Scunthorpe’s best opportunity of the half on 25 minutes with a swept ball cross-field to Ribeiro, bursting forward down the right. The right-back wriggled free inside the box, beating Wilde, and squared to Godden on the penalty spot. Godden unfortunately got under the ball and fired over the top.
The Iron’s positive spell of pressure didn’t last too long as Gainsborough remained determined to make things as difficult as possible for Brian Laws’ men.
Despite the scrappy nature of the game, Scunthorpe were still carving out the better opportunities. On 35 minutes, young winger Hakeeb Adelakun squirmed free of Trinity’s left back and burst into the box. He was quick to fire low with his left after getting himself some room but his shot cannoned back off the inside of the post, with Barnes stranded between the posts.
The game petered out into the half-time break with the same midfield battle that had prevailed throughout much of the first half.
Scunthorpe made four changes at half-time and it took Eddie Nolan only four minutes to play a part in the Iron taking the lead. The right back crossed from deep between the Gainsborough back-line and the keeper enabling former Trinity loanee Godden to comfortably hit home.
United followed up the opener with a period of cool play. Sparrow’s influence in midfield was allowing the Iron to gain a foothold. Two corners, one cleared off the line from a Canavan header were the fruits of continued pressure at the start of the 2nd half.
However, on 56 minutes and against the run of play, it was Trinity who equalised. Gainsborough broke two on two over halfway and the ball was fed across to Wilde who’d charged up the left flank. Andy Dawson came across to cover the break and his slide-clearance rebounded off Wilde’s boot, sending the ball looping fortuitously over Slocombe into the top left corner of his goal from 25-yards.
Brian Laws made six changes on 63 minutes, with the game again descending into a midfield scrap. Both sides were again struggling for control of the football and chances were few and far between.
Matt Sparrow danced through midfield and struck low at Trinity keeper Barnes and Sean McAllister fired over after a clearance.
It took until the 82nd minute for any more action of note. An Iron throw in reached the edge of the box via some Kyle Wooton hassling, allowing the ball to break to Jamie Wootton who slammed past Barnes left footed from just inside the box.
United’s back line and midfield were comfortable in possession and managed to see out the victory, making it a pleasing double for Brian Laws’ men in pre-season.
TEAM LINE-UPS
Gainsborough Trinity: Barnes, Roma, Young, Ward, Wilde, Williams, Leary, Russell, Davis, Jones, Baraclough.
Scunthorpe United: Slocombe (Severn, 63), Ribeiro (Nolan, 45), Canavan (Howe, 63), Waterfall (Mirfin, 45), Dawson (Grayson, 63), Hawkridge (Jennings, 73), McAllister (Sparrow, 45), Collins (Hornsey, 63), Adelakun (McAllister, 63), Godden (Kyle Wooton, 63), Jennings (Jamie Wootton, 45).