FA Cup with Budweiser first round replay
Scunthorpe United 0-1 AFC Wimbledon
Report from Glanford Park

United suffered an FA Cup first round replay exit at home to AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night, losing 1-0.

A goal midway through the second half from Luke Moore settled the tie on a disappointing evening for Alan Knill's side.

Off the back of Saturday's poor performance and defeat to Hartlepool United, Scunthorpe made three changes - two of them enforced.

With Paul Reid missing out through a recurrance of a groin injury and fellow centre back Shane Duffy ineligable, Niall Canavan and Michael Nelson came into the heart of defence, while Mark Duffy replaced Nicky Ajose on the right hand side of midfield.

That meant that the Iron lined up with Sam Slocombe in goal, a back four of Andrew Wright, Canavan, Nelson and Eddie Nolan; while in midfield it was Andy Barcham, skipper Sam Togwell, Michael O'Connor and Mark Duffy, while up top it was Bobby Grant and Chris Dagnall.

After the weekend it was a cautious start from the home side as they looked to feel their way into the game, meaning chances were at a premium, but after ten minutes it was the visitors who carved out the first real chance of any meaning, and as seems to have been the case in recent weeks it was the Iron who were the architects of their own undoing.

Canavan needlessly committed a foul right on the edge of the area, giving the Wombles a free-kick right on the line on the top left hand edge of the box.

Sam Hatton stepped up and forced a good save from Slocombe low down to his left pushing the ball around the post.

After looking like a blunt force for the opening quarter it was the home side who almost went ahead as Grant forced a save from Seb Brown.

Duffy picked up the ball on the edge of the Iron box and took the ball inside over the halfway line before releasing Barcham down the left.

The Iron winger advanced down the line before flicking the ball back to Duffy who had continued his run. He in turn crossed the ball, which Grant took on the volley, forcing a save from Brown when in truth the ball should have burst the net.

With 15 minutes left in the half, Duffy stung Brown's hands from 25 yards out.

A half where misplaced passes and wrong decisions when in possession were the watchwords was typified ten minutes before the break.

Charles Ademino broke free of the Iron defence and, with just Slocombe to beat, tried to slide a ball across which Canavan easily dealt with.

With the Iron's front two of Grant and Dagnall crowded out of the game, it was Duffy who looked the most potent threat but time and again he found it difficult as the home side laboured in front of a crowd of just over 2,000.

In an attempt to spark his side into life, AFC boss Terry Brown replaced Ryan Jackson with Jack Midson at the start of the second period and almost straight away he made an impact. Three minutes after the restart he played in Ricky Wellard who shot tamely at Slocombe.

At the other end there were glimpses of the Iron coming to life as first Grant slipped in the area when all he had to do was connect with the ball and then a last minute block prevented Wright crossing with players lining up in the box.

Fifteen minutes into the half and the Iron fashioned their best chance of as Duffy fed Barcham inside the box. The left winger turned and got his shot away only for Brown to get down smartly and clutch it to his body.

As the half wore on it seemed to be one way traffic as the Iron piled on the pressure, trying in vain to break down the Wombles, but to no avail as the visitors packed the defence.

The job became even harder on 66 minutes as, against the run of play the visitors took the lead.

Confusion reigned in the Iron penalty area as Midson's shot was saved and the ball rebounded to Luke Moore, who took a touch and then fired low past Slocombe into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

With that the visitors tails were up and Canavan had to be alert to clear off the line only moments later.

With 18 minutes to go, Knill threw on Garry Thompson as the hosts looked for a way back into the game with the Iron staring down the barrel of an embarrassing exit at the first hurdle against a spirited side who battle hard for every ball and work hard for each other.

With just under a quarter of an hour to go, Scunthorpe began to pile on the pressure first through Garry Thompson whose shot went agonisingly wide and then through O'Connor who forced a good save out of Brown who gratefully hung onto the ball with Dagnall lurking.

Knill's final throw of the dice was to bring on Norwood for Togwell and United looked a bigger threat in the closing stages, with Dagnall stinging Brown's fingers with a powerful effort from just inside the area.

United are next in action on Saturday when they visit Notts County.

Attendance: 2,036 (166 away).

Words: Kev Robinson