Great Game

On this week two years ago the Iron played out an entertaining 2-2 home draw with Bournemouth.

A late Richard Hinds equaliser secured the Iron a share of the points against the Cherries at Glanford Park.

It was the least they deserved from a spirited fightback after going 2-1 down. They had earlier led.

United began the first half shooting towards the Doncaster Road end of the ground and their first real opportunity came on six minutes when Steve Torpey fired a low shot towards Gareth Stewart's goal which was well saved by the Cherries 'stopper - who tipped the ball wide of his right-hand post.

The Iron then threatened from the ensuing corner but Bournemouth managed to get the ball clear, with the Cherries only having two players over the height of six foot the theme of putting pressure on with corners was going to continue throughout the match.

Scunthorpe continued to dominate, and on 11 minutes Torpey capitalised on a weak backpass and some indecision in the Bournemouth defence to gain control of the ball in the Cherries penalty area. He was then brought down by Cherries defender Eddie Howe and referee Kevin Friend pointed to the spot.

Peter Beagrie stepped up to score his second penalty inside a week. He rifled the ball past Stewart, who dived the wrong way to his left. It was the 40-year-old's fifth goal of the season, and four of them have come from the penalty spot.

Just a couple of minutes later Andy Keogh was played through but, whilst tussling with Bournemouth's James O'Connor, hooked the ball over the crossbar. He also went close with a header from a Cleveland Taylor cross ten minutes later which Stewart was equal to.

After that the visitors enjoyed a ten minute spell in which they dominated possession. They came close to troubling Iron 'stopper Paul Musselwhite on a couple of occasions but seemed to overplay rather than directly take their chances.

On 33 minutes that pressure brought a goal. The Cherries won a free-kick after Steve Foster fouled James Hayter 40 yards from goal.

The resulting free kick was a curling cross from Steven Foley that reached the head of Bournemouth's top scorer Hayter six yards from goal, he diverted the ball past Musselwhite into his top left-hand corner. It was his 19th goal of the season and the fourth consecutive game in which he has netted against the Iron.

The visiting side continued to look a threat as the half went on but thankfully they didn't score again before the referee blew his whistle for half-time.

They had started the opening 45 minutes well but seemed to lose purpose and direction as the half went on, allowing Bournemouth to take their game to them - they knew they needed to step up a level in the second half to secure the win that would surely confirm League One safety.

That is exactly what the Iron did, forcing a corner right at the start, and they continued in that vein. Peter Beagrie fired in a volley that went just wide of Stewart's right-hand post on 51 minutes after good link-up play from the front two of Torpey and Keogh.

United had another attempt on 54 minutes when a curling left-footed 25-yard effort from Ian Baraclough was tipped over the crossbar by Stewart.

For all the Scunthorpe pressure though it was Bournemouth who went close to taking the lead. Another Steven Foley set-piece caught out the Iron rearguard and after a flick on by Steve Fletcher and, seemingly in slow motion, James O'Connor volleyed an effort against Musselwhite's right-hand post.

In an attempt to galvanise his side boss Brian Laws introduced Billy Sharp to the proceedings on 60 minutes. The 20-goal top scorer replaced Cleveland Taylor as Andy Keogh moved on to the left flank and Peter Beagrie switched to the right.

Like in the first half though the visitors were beginning to come more into the game and straight after full-back Stephen Purches fired a long-range effort wide, they were rewarded for their pressure with another goal.

On 64 minutes O' Connor, who had been a threat all afternoon, found space and rifled home a superb right-foot volleyed effort straight into Musselwhite's top right-hand corner despite the desperate dive of the Iron 'stopper.

As time ticked away United made a double substitution on 69 minutes with Ritchie Ryan and Cliff Byrne replacing Peter Beagrie and Nathan Stanton. It was Ryan's first competitive appearance in an Iron shirt since the Football League Trophy defeat at Hereford in December.

Scunthorpe began to heap pressure on the Cherries goal and firstly Steve Torpey had an effort that struck the bar. Cliff Byrne's cross reached the target man and his header beat Gareth Stewart but struck the top of the crossbar and went out for a goal kick.

Then, secondly, from an Ian Baraclough corner on the right Andy Crosby almost diverted in a flick on from the left-hand side of the box but his effort was cleared off the line in the nick of time. A minute later Billy Sharp's cross reached Andy Keogh, but his header was well saved by Stewart.

United were beginning to have more of an impact on the game though and fought in vein for an equaliser.

Scunthorpe went close with another effort from the left-hand side of the penalty box but Billy Sharp's header, after another Cliff Byrne cross, was again well saved by Stewart.

On 84 minutes they were rewarded for their pressure when Richard Hinds turned on the edge of the 18-yard box to drill a right-footed strike past Stewart and gave United hope of clinching a dramatic late win. It was his seventh goal of a very productive season.

There were to be no more real chances though as the visiting side succeeded in keeping possession well.

On This Matchday

A look back at matches from April 12, the day United visit Crystal Palace this season.

1952 D3N Carlisle United A L 0-3
1958 D3N Bury A L 1-2
1963 DIV2 Luton Town H W 2-0
1966 DIV3 Grimsby Town H D 2-2
1969 DIV4 Exeter City A L 1-3
1975 DIV4 Chester H L 1-3
1977 DIV4 Southport A L 1-2
1980 DIV4 Peterborough United H W 1-0
1986 DIV4 Swindon Town A D 1-1
1988 DIV4 Carlisle United H W 1-0
1993 LD3 Gillingham A D 1-1
1997 LD3 Hull City H D 2-2
2003 LD3 Swansea City A D 1-1
2004 LD3 Cheltenham Town A L 1-2

Born On This Week

April 8 - Marcus Williams (1986)
April 9 - Steve Davy (1955), Peter Neale (1934), Dick Taylor (1918)
April 11 - Peter Skipper (1958)