Joe Bowden presents a minute-by-minute report from Blundell Park:
18:44: The Iron make an away trip to Grimsby this evening, for the semi-final of the 2009 Lincolnshire Senior Cup. It's Scunthorpe's fourth game of the pre-season so-far, and United will be looking to keep up the 100% record which they've established so-far, especially as the game is against local rivals.
The Teams:
Grimsby Town: Overton, Bore, Linwood, Heywood, Bird, Jarman, Leary, Clark, Fuller, Proudlock, North. Substitutes: Peet, Corner, Wood, Normington, Gray.
Scunthorpe United: Murphy, A. Wright, Byrne, Jones, Coleman, Sparrow, J. Wright, McCann, Woolford, Hayes, Hooper. Substitutes: Slocombe, Morris, Togwell, O'Connor, May.
First-Half:
3 Minutes: Grimsby make the more productive start, with young midfielder Josh Fuller showing some neat movement and flair to create Grimsby an early opening. It results in a Mariners corner, which United defend resilliently.
9 Minutes: United are growing into the game now, as firstly, Paul Hayes sees a shot creep narrowly over the bar; before United have a penalty appeal turned down when Matt Sparrow is seemingly tripped in the area.
14 Minutes: This is developing into an interesting game. United just came really close to taking the lead, as Gary Hooper surged down the line, and popped the ball into Paul Hayes' path. Hayes attempted to poke home - beating Leigh Overton in the Town goal, but the ball was cleared on the goaline by Matthew Bird.
19 Minutes: UNITED SCORE! Martyn Woolford clips a searching cross towards the back-post, from where Cliff Byrne (who is back with the captain's armband this evening) heads it back into the danger zone... And the reason it's called the danger-zone - as Gary Hooper is lurking there to poke it home.
Grimsby Town 0 Scunthorpe United 1
20 Minutes: SECOND GOAL FOR UNITED! In the immediate aftermath of the first, United double their money. Grimsby have the ball in defence, and try to clear it - but only as far as Paul Hayes - who punishes their lack of conviction in the most brutal of ways - through scoring.
Grimsby Town 0 Scunthorpe United 2
27 Minutes: United win a corner - after a fantastic team move, in which Paul Hayes plays a major part. United are in complete control.
32 Minutes: Rob Jones tries to turn a loose ball home following a corner; but in one of those 'anyone but him' moments, what seems like the entire Grimsby defence fling themselves at the goal-bound ball, and successfully divert it in another direction.
34 Minutes: This time it's Gary Hooper's turn to shoot. He dances with the ball, before sliding a shot underneath Overton; but past the post.
37 Minutes: Grant McCann probes forward, plays a neat one-two with Paul Hayes, and then sends a trademark left-footed curler towards goal. Overton saves smartly. United could be out of sight by now. The Grimsby crowd is growing restless.
40 Minutes: The decibel level inside Blundell Park raises a few decibels after confrontation in the middle of the pitch. It also provokes Nigel Adkins into coming pitchside/ into the dugout (he was previously sat towards the back of the Main Stand with assistant Ian Baraclough, keeping a distant watch over events).
Half-Time:
Grimsby Town 0 Scunthorpe United 2
19:48: United are thoroughly in control of this match. For five minutes at the start of the half, Grimsby looked like a genuine threat, but ever since, have simply fizzled out. To highlight a few pleasing aspects of today's match - The Iron's midfield partnership of Grant McCann and Josh Wright is looking very impressive; and Rory Coleman is having yet another superb game at left-back.
20:02: United will resume play for the second period with the same eleven that ended the first. Possibly because both of the teams are allowed to make just three changes - like a league match.
Second-Half:
46 Minutes: United almost get a third within moments of the game resuming. The ball fluffs around on the edge of the Grimsby area, but Paul Hayes can't quite stab it home - as he's encircled by three Grimsby players, including the goalkeeper, Leigh Overton.
56 Minutes: Town have come back into the fray a little during the second period. But only to the extent that the game is balanced. As I type, United have a chance - a Grant McCann free-kick, which Leight Overton claims.
60 Minutes: Adam Proudlock comes as close as Grimsby have come all evening. The ball is floating around in United's area - seemingly going nowhere; but falls at Proudlock's feet, who with his back to the goal, sends an effort at the target - which cannons back off the crossbar.
61 Minutes: Firstly, Matt Sparrow sends a close-range volley narrowly over the crossbar; and then secondly, Grimsby make an alteration - swapping Michael Leary with Grant Normington.
63 Minutes: Grant McCann (who moments before, sent a chip at goal - which Leigh Overton handled well) is replaced by Sam Togwell. Josh Wright is also replaced - by Michael O'Connor.
66 Minutes: HAYES GRABS ANOTHER! There's a scramble in the area - Hayes and Hooper are both involved - and eventually the ball slides lengthways past Leigh Overton, and Paul Hayes is the lucky recipient of it, in-front of an un-guarded net.
Grimsby Town 0 Scunthorpe United 3
74 Minutes: Grimsby striker Danny North has the ball in the net at the second attempt (he miscued his first effort). But United fans will be pleased to know that the offside flag was raised some time beforehand.
79 Minutes: Some controversy is injected into the game! Cliff Byrne thought the referee had stopped play - but he hadn't. So when Byrne handled the ball, the Grimsby fans and players were not too happy. Town were awarded a free-kick. Jamie Clark sent it spewing into the stand.
81 Minutes: Sam Togwell misses a decent chance. Gary Hooper slides the ball into his path, and with only the goalkeeper to beat he sends the ball flying over the bar. United then make a change - Ian Morris takes Martyn Woolford's place.
85 Minutes: With the clock running down, the game is reverting back to it's former pattern. With just over five minutes to go, United are camped in the Grimsby half, and looking like a team well worthy of their 3-0 advantage.
87 Minutes: Ian Morris swings a corner into the box; Cliff Byrne heads it on (and to be fair, it's heading straight for the far top-corner); and then Peter Bore clears it off the line. That could easily have been 4-0.
90 Minutes: In the dying seconds, Cliff Byrne hits the post, as United continue to seek that fourth goal.
Full-Time:
Grimsby Town 0 Scunthorpe United 3
20:50: A neutral on-looker would certainly know which of tonight's teams was from the Championship; and which one was from League 2. United have outclassed Grimsby, and could easily have won by more. The result will be especially pleasing for United fans though, as ultimately, there's nothing like a derby win.
Attendance: 859 (152 away)
