Joseph Bowden presents a minute-by-minute report from the Iron's home game against Leeds:

11.20: The Leeds players arrive onto the pitch to begin their warm-up, provoking a chorus of boos from the Iron faithful. The Leeds fans respond with chants of 'We are Leeds.' Today's teams will line-up as follows:

Scunthorpe United: Lillis, Milne, Williams, Iriekpen (c), Byrne, Thompson, Hayes, Hooper, McCann, Hurst, Morris. Substitutes: Sparrow, Lea, Forte, Wright, May.

Leeds United: Ankergren, Richardson (c), Marques, Prutton, Beckford, Sheehan, Howson, Robinson, Showunmi, Snodgrass. Substitutes: Douglas, Brecchio, Lucas, Hughes, Telfer.

11.40: Light rain is drizzling over Glanford Park - making the pitch much slicker prior to the game. Both sets of players continue to warm-up; meanwhile the Scunny Bunny entertains today's mascots.

11.59 The players arrive onto the pitch for the first game of the 2008/2009 campaign to the sound of a rapturous applause. The fans and players collaborate in a moving one-minute applause for Iron fan Dan Grice - who recently died of leukemia.

First Half:

1 Minute: Leeds force the first corner of the game after Cliff Byrne is forced to clear the ball behind. The corner is played into the danger-area, but headed wide of the mark from amid the collection of heads.

4 Minutes: Scunthorpe win their first corner, which Grant McCann takes. The corner is whipped-in, but headed away by Enoch Showunmi at the near post. Scunthorpe then win a free-kick from out-wide, and again McCann takes. It results in another corner, but this time Leeds defend the ball well and relieve the pressure on their goal.

10 Minutes: A hopeful punt forward towards Jermaine Beckford comes from the Leeds backline, but the striker is offside. Shortly afterwards, Scunthorpe's Gary Thompson works his way down the right wing and puts in an opportunistic cross that evades Paul Hayes.

14 Minutes: Enoch Showunmi receives a lecture from the referee after a foul on Izzy Iriekpen in the center-circle.

15: Scunthorpe are awarded a free-kick on the right that Grant McCann takes. The ball is whipped in, but shoving in the area results in another free kick, this time for Leeds - to which their supporters respond by sarcastically cheering the referee.

17 Minutes: Gary Hooper takes a shot at goal from the edge of the area. His shot is blocked and falls behind for a corner, which Enoch Showunmi clears with his head.

19 Minutes: Gary Hooper is played into the area from down the left channel. His shot is saved by Casper Ankergren and Scunthorpe win another corner, from which Leeds are somewhat fortunate to once again defend. Leeds then break, but their eventual shot from Jonathan Howson drags wide of the Iron goal.

27 Minutes: Scunthorpe win a free-kick from a dangerous position after Gary Hooper is fouled. Kevan Hurst supplies a cross for Izzy Iriekpen to slam home a header - but the linesman flags for offside.

31 Minutes: A somewhat rare Leeds effort on goal comes from Enoch Showunmi. His header from within the area is comfortably held by Josh Lillis.

34 Minutes: Paul Hayes gives the ball to Gary Thompson who moves the ball out-wide and fires in a cross. The ball is headed behind for a corner - which nothing comes of.

36 Minutes: Following his earlier warning, Enoch Showunmi is shown a yellow card by referee Mr. Probert for a late tackle on Scunthorpe captain Izzy Iriekpen.

38 Minutes: Paul Hayes feeds the ball towards Grant McCann in the area. McCann has a good opportunity, but delicately flicks the ball wide of goal.

43: Leeds' Robert Snodgrass begins a run towards goal down the right channel; but is stopped by a committed sliding challenge from Kenny Milne.

44 Minutes: A Kevan Hurst corner sails towards the back post in what appears to be a promising scenario for Scunthorpe - until Leeds United keeper' Casper Ankergren clips the ball to safety.

45 Minutes: The half-time whistle is blown with the scores level at nil-nil. Scunthorpe have undoubtedly had the better of the possession and of the chances, but have yet to show that they possess the final product.

1.05: During half-time the attendance is confirmed: 8,315. There is also the usual crossbar challenge - which nobody succeeds in hitting!

Second Half:

46 Minutes: Immediately Leeds put Scunthorpe under-pressure. An Andy Robinson free-kick is seemingly heading for the top-corner, until Josh Lillis produces a fantastic save to tip the ball wide. Leeds then gain a corner, which after a goalmouth scramble is cleared by the Iron.

47 Minutes: Gary McAllister has obviously had words with his Leeds side over half-time as again they go on the attack. This time, Jermaine Beckford converges on goal and bullets a shot wide of the left post.

57 Minutes: Gary Hooper plays the ball to Paul Hayes, who knocks it back into the path of Hooper. The ball is temporarily caught-up, but soon after is back with Hooper - who slots the ball side-footed into the right-hand corner of the net. Scunthorpe United 1 - 0 Leeds United.

61 Minutes: Almost straight-away, Leeds United equalise to silence the previously jubilant home faithful. A cross comes in from a Robert Snodgrass free-kick on the right; and is firmly headed home by an un-challenged Enoch Showunmi at the far-post. Scunthorpe United 1 - 1 Leeds United.

65 Minutes: Jermaine Beckford wriggles his way past Izzy Iriekpen and into the area from down the left channel. He crosses, but the ball is far too strong and only serves as a reminder that Leeds have seized the initiative in this match.

66 Minutes: Substitution for Scunthorpe. Nigel Adkins replaces Paul Hayes with the fresh-legs of Jonathan Forte up-front.

71 Minutes: A left-footed ball from Kevan Hurst is intended to run towards Jonothan Forte, but instead is collected by Casper Ankergren. Soon after, a Leeds United free-kick from Robert Snodgrass strikes the wall from just over twenty-yards.

75 Minutes: Nigel Adkins makes his second change of the day as Kevan Hurst gives way to Matt Sparrow.

79 Minutes: Leeds make the breakthrough, and it comes from the former Iron Jermaine Beckford. Firstly, David Prutton's long-range effort at goal cannons back off the crossbar - before dropping for Beckford to touch into the net. Scunthorpe United 1 - 2 Leeds United. In the aftermath, Leeds make a substitution replacing Showunmi with Luciano Brecchio.

80 Minutes: Subsitution for Scunthorpe - McCann is replaced by the aerial presence of Ben May.

87 Minutes: Scunthorpe are now going forward and probing for an equaliser, but have yet to create any opportunities of note as they simply move the ball around while in the vicinity of the Leeds goal.

90 Minutes: The linesman indicates that there will be a minimum of three minutes of added time.

90 Minutes + 1: Leeds make a substitution as they attempt to run-down the clock, Andy Robinson is replaced by Andy Hughes.

90 Minutes +2: Scunthorpe's fate appears to be sealed. Ian Morris receives the ball in space on the left flank, but succeeds only in crossing the ball into the Doncaster Road End. It turns out to be the last of the meaningful action as the final whistle is blown soon afterwards. Today has truly been a game of two halves, which one may argue Scunthorpe United have been unlucky to leave empty-handed.

Full Time: Scunthorpe United 1 - 2 Leeds United.