Scunthorpe United 1-1 Tranmere Rovers
Report from Glanford Park

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Cliff Byrne scored a dramatic late equaliser to seal Scunthorpe's place in the play-offs against closest rivals Tranmere Rovers on Saturday afternoon.

United will play Milton Keynes Dons on Friday night in the first leg of the semi-final at Glanford Park after the Irish club captain powered in a header.

It was a dominant second-half performance from Nigel Adkins' side, who fell behind to a Craig Curran goal just before half-time.

There were wild celebrations in the stands and on the pitch at the final whistle as Scunthorpe celebrated a memorable draw.

United made two changes going into their decisive final day home clash with Tranmere Rovers at Glanford Park.

The Iron brought in Martyn Woolford and Matt Sparrow for Marcus Williams and Henri Lansbury respectively heading into the huge match.

Josh Lillis started in goal, in place of the injured Joe Murphy, while Cliff Byrne, David Mirfin, Krystian Pearce and Joseph Mills formed the defence.

The midfield consisted of Sparrow, Sam Togwell, Grant McCann and Woolford, while Gary Hooper and Paul Hayes led the attack.

The substitutes were Sam Slocombe, Garry Thompson, Andrew Wright, Liam Trotter and Andy Crosby.

It was a huge game for the Iron, and Glanford Park was heaving for the big match with Ronnie Moore's side.

The match got off to a cagey start, with both defences well on top in the opening stages, but Scunthorpe had the first chance when Pearce looped a header over the crossbar following McCann's corner on 10 minutes.

Moments later, Barnett's cross was diverted wide by Moore from close range for the visitors as the match began to open up slowly.

It was a tight game, and Woolford angled a volley just over the crossbar at around the half-hour mark. A few inches lower and it would have crept in, but it wasn't to be for Scunthorpe.

Rovers went ahead on 39 minutes with the first real opportunity of the afternoon. Ian Moore's deep cross from the right wing was headed home by Curran at the far post from four yards.

Hooper steered a shot wide from 20 yards as Scunthorpe looked for an instant response, it wasn't to come in the remainder of the opening half though.

Tranmere had the final chance of the opening period when Jennings' spectacular volley drew a superb stop from Lillis, low down to his right.

At half-time, United brought Wright on for Mills to change things around.

The first opportunity of the second period came the way of Hayes, seven minutes into the second half, but he dragged his shot, after Hooper's flick, wide of goal.

Hooper came close three minutes later when Woolford played through Hayes on the left and he headed his partner's cross over the bar from 12 yards.

Hayes then curled a shot from outside the area just over the crossbar as the hosts continued to press.

Hooper had another chance shortly after as he headed into the arms of Coyne from close range after McCann's corner.

Thompson replaced Sparrow 20 minutes into the second half as the hosts seeked a fresh edge going forward.

Hayes lashed an effort wide after the Rovers defence had failed to clear their lines on 70 minutes as the match neared a dramatic finish.

McCann then curled a free-kick over the crossbar from just over 25 yards. Time was running out for Scunthorpe, who desperately needed a levelling goal.

Hayes and Hooper linked up well again moments later, but the latter thrashed his shot over the crossbar.

The home pressure continued, and McCann, with the aid of a deflection, curled a right-footed shot just over the crossbar.

Midfielder Trotter replaced Pearce with around 10 minutes left and moved into the attack to add a more physical threat.

Tranmere conceded an ultimately costly free-kick with three minutes left as he bundled over Woolford. It was his second booking of the game and he was promptly sent off.

Then came the match's magic moment as Byrne, who scored his first goal in almost three years against Cheltenham on Tuesday, netted again in dramatic fashion as he powered in a header at the far post after McCann's free-kick from the left.

Tranmere were now chasing the goal which would put them in the play-offs and that meant Scunthorpe could break - Thompson surged forward and fired in a shot which Coyne tipped out as far as Hooper, whose rebound was cleared off the goal-line by Edrissa Sonko.

There were four minutes of stoppage time but Scunthorpe held on to seal their place in the top six.

Sponsors' men of the match: Matt Sparrow and Paul Hayes.

Attendance: 8,029 (1,678 away).