November had been a mixed month for the Iron and, although they entered December sitting in the top six of the division, a particular aim for the final month of 2008 was to get back among the top two.
They began the month in style too - defeating promotion rivals Milton Keynes Dons 2-0 at Stadium:MK.
Scunthorpe had edged a tight game and got their rewards when substitute Ian Morris unleashed a sensational strike past Dons goalkeeper Willy Gueret.
Then, moments later, Garry Thompson connected with an Ian Morris cross to slam in the second and a seal one of the best league wins of the season.
The victory moved them up to sixth in the league, and the Iron hoped to continue that form going into the home encounter with Northampton a week later.
It started so well for United too who, at one stage, looked on course for one of their biggest home wins in recent times.
Ben May, who had been linking up ever so well with Gary Hooper in the absence of the injured Paul Hayes, headed United into the lead.
Hooper then powered in a second from the edge of the 18-yard box before Scott McGleish pulled one back for the away team.
Hooper soon headed in his second goal of the match to restore the two goal advantage. Then May fired in a rebound just after half time to make it 4-1.
At that point, Nigel Adkins' side looked to be plain sailing but Giles Coke quickly pulled one back. Then Danny Jackman got in on the act with a brace as the Cobblers snatched a draw from the jaws of a heavy defeat.
In his post-match interviews, Adkins laid into his side's defensive vulnerabilities and vowed things would change three days later when his side hosted Tranmere Rovers in the Northern Section semi-final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Veteran player/assistant manager Andy Crosby was brought into the team to add a little bit of steel to the back four, and the defence looked more solid as a result.
May headed United into a first-half lead but Ian Moore equalised soon after the half-time break.
Hayes, who had a protective mask created for him on the morning of the game and has been asking the manager to put him on the bench, was brought on as a late substitute, wearing the mask, with the intention of taking a penalty in the shoot-out which would have occurred had the scores been level after 90 minutes.
However, the forward curled in a late free-kick from the left angle of Tranmere's half of the pitch, which took a slight deflection off John Johnson and left Rovers goalkeeper Danny Coyne helpless. 'The Phantom' had struck and had provided one of the most iconic moments of the season.
The following Saturday it was back to league action as United drew 0-0 at Colchester's new Community Stadium. It was a lively afternoon, with Hooper missing a succession of chances and the U's coming close themselves on a couple of occasions. Nevertheless, the point took them up to fourth.
They stayed there following the next game too, when they beat Hartlepool United in emphatic style at Glanford Park on Boxing Day - making up for the 3-0 loss at the hands of the Pools earlier in the campaign.
Grant McCann's spectacular free kick opened the scoring in style, with Hooper and substitute Hayes netting in the second half as the Iron saw off a disorientated Pools team.
The month ended at Huddersfield on December 28, with Scunthorpe losing 2-0 to a side containing former Iron stars Andy Butler and Jim Goodwin. Indeed, it was the latter who struck the first blow with a header midway through the second half. They then notched again on the counter-attack in the dying stages as Gary Roberts added a second.
The Iron ended 2008 sitting sixth in League One, and well placed to push for a play-off berth in the second half of the year.
The main other notable action in December was the exit of captain Izzy Iriekpen, who was placed on the transfer list and went on to leave the club, playing for Championship side Bristol City later in the season. Cliff Byrne was handed the captain's armband following his exit.
December's league record
P5 W2 L1 D2 Pts 8.
December's top scorers
Ben May and Gary Hooper (three each).
