Scunthorpe came up against a determined North Ferriby side at Grange Lane and fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat.
The home side were well organised as well as energetic and Laws’ men will be hoping to step things up for the league opener against Mansfield at Glanford Park next weekend.North Ferriby began in spirited fashion, snapping at Scunthorpe heels and putting the Iron under heavy pressure inside the first five minutes. After some flowing build up play, with good understanding down the right flank, Jarman wriggled free inside the box, past Mirfin’s outstretched leg. The former Grimsby forward pulled a ball back towards the edge of the box and Slocombe eventually smothered an effort from Liam King that bounced awkwardly in front of him after the ball broke loose.
The Iron responded with three corners, all dealt with relatively easily however by North Ferriby’s back line and goalkeeper. The hosts, promoted to the Skrill North as reigning Evo-Stik Premier Champions, were confident in possession and made things as difficult as possible for Scunthorpe without the ball with good energy in closing down and strong organisation as a unit.
On 19 minutes, Nicklin, between the sticks for the Villagers, was called into his first action of the afternoon. Good passing play inside the opposition third ended with Hawkridge being found in space just outside the box by Iwelumo. The winger shaped to curl low into the far corner but Nicklin’s fingertips put the ball round the post.
North Ferriby’s confident start told with 24 minutes gone. Canavan fouled 25 yards from goal to give the hosts an opportunity perfectly suited for a right-footed, curling strike at goal. Skipper Russell Fry stepped up and his effort fit the bill to a tee – Slocombe could do nothing at full stretch to prevent the pinpoint strike, right in the top corner, from hitting the back of the net.
Minutes later, Eddie Nolan replicated the situation, this time on the opposite side of the box, bringing down Danny Clarke after miscontrolling and allowing the wide-man inside. Fry stepped up to strike at goal and again the effort looked good. This time though, Slocombe got two strong palms on the strike, diverting the ball to safety.
The hosts were enjoying a fruitful period in the game, though they couldn’t completely snuff out Scunthorpe’s goal threat. On the counter, Michael Collins found Burton – setting him through on goal after good movement from the striker. Burton took his time to strike, allowing Nicklin to rush out and impose himself, eventually forcing Burton into a sliced left-footed effort sent high and wide on the half hour.
As half time approached things had been more end-to-end, however the home side ended the half firmly on the front foot. Former Gainsborough Trinity winger Jamie Yates broke free down the left. His winding run saw him pass a couple of Iron men before he eventually struck an effort into the side netting from only a few yards out with Slocombe covering his near post.
The closing effort of the half was again from the hosts. Danny Clarke was left unmarked down the Iron left. He was able to get a shot away unchallenged which Slocombe dealt with using a strong wrist.
Scunthorpe would have been aiming to step things up in the second half against an on-song Ferriby in a bid to put a seal on a strong string of pre-season results.
The second half did begin brightly for the away side. Mirfin twisted and turned in the box after a free-kick to tee up Sparrow on the edge of the area. The midfielder’s effort was well blocked, though. On 54 minutes Sparrow again had the opportunity to strike. Breaking from wide on the left, he was able to cut inside his man on the edge of the box. However, he dragged his shot tamely into the side netting.
In a more composed second period, the Iron were starting to venture forward more regularly. Hawkridge flicked to Sparrow in centre-field, giving Sparrow the opportunity to bend a ball down the left for Eddie Nolan to run onto. Nolan fizzed a ball across goal, requiring a firm foot to send the ball behind to safety from a Ferriby man.
The Villagers, though, wouldn’t give Scunthorpe’s defensive unit a rest. Good reading of the game from Hawkridge, with roughly a quarter of the match remaining, resulted in a timely interception from a menacing cross-field through-ball aimed at the forwards which had beaten the rest of Scunthorpe’s back-line.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Winnall and McAllister were put on to try and gain a more definite impetus late on in the game. Riberio’s running down the right provided an outlet for an Iron attack with around ten minutes left to play. He almost burst clear were it not for a timely foot in, preventing him from bursting past the last man.
Ribeiro regained possession after a clearance and Winnall’s running got Scunthorpe in behind once more. Godden was free, square of Winnall and Sam managed to find his strike partner, who could only get a feathered touch towards goal before substitute goalkeeper Pecora blasted clear.
Inside the last five minutes, Scunthorpe had the majority of the ball, as would be expected with Ferriby sitting back to hold onto their lead. Passing between Sparrow, McAllister and Collins was purposeful and despite their best efforts to drive the team forward the lack of any real openings meant that the home side held onto their win.
TEAM LINE-UPS
North Ferriby United: Nicklin (Pecora, 77), Robson (Lisles, 55), Peat (Gill, 75), King (Kirk, 63), Belcher, Hone, Clarke, Fry, Jarman, Kendall, Yates (Hunter, 55).
Substitutes: Taylor, Bruce.
Scunthorpe United: Slocombe, Ribeiro, Nolan, Mirfin, Canavan, Hawkridge (McAllister, 77), Sparrow, Collins, Welsh, Burton (Winnall, 77), Iwelumo (Godden, 65)
Substitutes: Severn, Waterfall, Howe, Grayson, Hornsey, Wootton.
Attendance: 277.