The Iron's junior side moved to the top of the Puma Youth Alliance U18 North East Division with a 2-0 win at near neighbours Grimsby Town on Saturday.

Tony Daws' new-look side have made an unbeaten start to the new campaign, and the weekend's result makes it seven points from three games.

Scunthorpe kicked off in to a very strong head wind and created an opening within seconds as striker Marcus Gibbs shot over the Mariners bar. 

Two minutes in, and Johnathan Williams shot his free kick directly in to the Grimsby wall, before curling his follow-up shot over the home team's cross bar as United looked to open the scoring.

Grimsby then had a bit of pressured before the game was temporarily halted on 16 minutes when midfielder Andy Williamson went down after a clash of heads with Town skipper Mark Gray. After treatment both players were thankfully okay and able to continue.

The hosts were a threat. but the Iron almost took the lead on 37 minutes when Alfred Gbanie fired wide after a good ball in from Jack Cross.

Striker Gibbs was alert as he tried to chip the Mariners keeper Peel a minute before half time but the home keeper was equal to his effort and both teams went in goalless at half time.

Williamson was forced off during the interval suffering from the head injury sustained in the first half and fellow first year Kieron McCaffrey took his place in the engine room for Scunthorpe.

United, with the wind at their backs were straight on the attack and forced a corner directly from the restart. Midfielder Joe Maguire's shot drifting narrowly over the Grimsby bar.

Striker Aron Wint went close on 54 minutes shooting narrowly wide when put through on goal by Comer. 

The visitors were now forcing the pace of the game and took the lead on 56 minutes. Comer played a well weighted pass to wide man Cross who made good ground dribbling to the left side of the Mariners box.

His intelligent cut back was well met from 25 yards by captain Maguire who saw his low well driven shot fly past the home keeper Rob Peel to put United in the lead.

The Mariners were always dangerous and offered a threat with their attacks almost snatching a goal on the counter attack from United's corner.

The second goal came on 86 minutes and it was almost a carbon copy of the opening strike. This time it was midfielder McCaffrey who set his sights well and drove in a shot from just outside the Mariners box.

Town keeper Peel could not hold the shot and Gibbs was on hand to knock in the rebound to notch his fifth goal in only three games and effectively secure the points for the Iron.

United forced two further corners in the final minutes as they finished the game strongly and came away from the Mariners' Cheapside training ground with all three points.

Coach Tony Daws said: "Youth games against Neil Woods' Grimsby are usually very tough and this was no different.

"I am pleased to get something out of the game.

"The strong wind played a big part and generally spoilt it as it became the old 'game of two halves'.

"I thought that we adapted to the conditions very well, took our chances when they presented themselves and defended well when we needed too, particularly in the first half.

"The boys are starting to 'gel' together quite well; they are learning and making progress at the moment."

Read a full, in-depth report from Tony Daws in the Preston North End issue of THE IRON.