Classic Match

A 2-0 win over Huddersfield secured promotion to the Championship for Scunthorpe United exactly one year ago/

A Billy Sharp double was enough to earn the Iron the victory that takes them into the second tier of English football next season. It was a deserved win for the League One leaders, who professionally finished off their Yorkshire opponents.

United's first real chance of the afternoon came on eight minutes when Jermaine Beckford flicked Joe Murphy's long ball upfield into the path of Sharp, who raced to the ball before firing in a half-volley from the edge of the penalty area, which was directed at Matt Glennon's top left-hand corner. The Huddersfield goalkeeper, however, tipped the ball over the crossbar to prevent the league's leading marksman from scoring, for now. It was to prove, arguably, their best attempt of the opening period.

Chances were few and far between in the opening period with the two respective midfields battling it out for supremacy. Both defences were on top in the early stages as well as the Iron struggled to break down their lower mid-table opponents, who had appointed a new manager in former Barnsley boss Andy Ritchie earlier in the week.

Sharp, hungry for goals, turned on the right after a pass from Cleveland Taylor and fired in a shot at goal on 28 minutes that looked to take a deflection on its way past Glennon's left-hand post, but referee Eddie Ilderton ruled it to be a goal kick to the Terriers.

The away team had their first, and best, opportunity of the first half on 35 minutes when Mark Hudson connected with a David Mirfin free kick from the right to strike just wide of goal from 12 yards, when perhaps it may have been easier for him to score. It was a golden opportunity for the away team in all honesty and one that they went on to rue. On the attack after Murphy's subsequent goal kick, the Iron came close again to opening the scoring when Beckford's turn and shot took a wicked deflection and went wide of Glennon's right-hand post.

Four minutes before the half-time interval Sharp had another chance. The former Sheffield United man received the ball from Beckford before firing over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area - it was never troubling the Huddersfield goalkeeper though. Furthermore, two minutes later, Butler fired wide of the stopper's left-hand post with a diving header from the right-hand side of the penalty area, 12 yards from goal, after Kevan Hurst's delivery into the centre from a corner on the right.

Scunthorpe were enjoying the majority of the possession but struggled to really test the Terriers in the opening period. However, the away team were never a major threat either and, shooting towards their own supporters in the second period, you had to feel the home side could step it up another gear.

Neil MacKenzie had the first chance of the second half on 51 minutes when his stinging shot from 20 yards after Taylor's pass forced Glennon to palm the ball out. Fortunately for him it didn't drop straight into the feet of Sharp or Beckford. Then, three minutes later, Hurst cut inside from the left to fire in a low right-footed effort which the Terriers 'stopper saved well - clutching the ball safely from the onrushing Beckford.

The Terriers gave out a warning on 56 minutes when he fired past Murphy on the right-hand side of the six yard box at his near post. However, a flag was raised for offside and Scunthorpe lived to fight another day.

Beckford had a great chance to put the home team ahead one minute later but he failed to get enough direction and power to his header from eight yards out after Hurst's cross. MacKenzie then could have notched the Iron's first with a vicious free kick from the edge of the penalty area, but it flashed just wide of Glennon's top left-hand corner. Inbetween that spell of chances United made their first substitution with Sparrow replacing Taylor.

Striker Beckford had another gilt-edged chance on 60 minutes but he stabbed the ball over the crossbar from six yards after Hurst's corner from the left failed to be cleared properly. Sparrow, who had missed the majority of the second half of the season through injury and suspension, was the next to fashion out an opening - but his shot from edge of the penalty area cleared the crossbar. Sharp then had a goal disallowed on 65 minutes when he fired past Glennon from six yards but he was ruled to be offside by the assistant referee. He had to wait all but two minutes to finally get that elusive 29th goal of the campaign.

He cleverly flicked the ball onto Hurst on the left, who in turn cut inside and fired in a shot that Glennon could only parry out, and the Study United stand and the two other home areas erupted as Sharp prodded the ball into the empty net. He was handed it on a plate but it was a goal he richly deserved and the Iron's supporters and players could now taste Championship football - but they still had over 25 minutes left before they could touch it.

After that, the game ebbed and flowed from end to end without any chances for a ten-minute spell. There was a Scunthorpe substitution on 77 minutes as Ian Baraclough replaced Jim Goodwin in midfield as boss Adkins seeked to get another set of fresh legs in there. Sparrow had the home team's next opportunity on 80 minutes when he curled a right-footed shot just wide of goal from the edge of the area.

Then, on 83 minutes, came the decisive blow as the linesman adjudged Joe Skarz to have handled the ball in the penalty area as he blocked a Sharp cross. The away team felt it was a harsh decision, saying the ball was outside the penalty area, but United weren't arguing as they were handed the chance to giftwrap their promotion. Up stepped Sharp, in Crosby's absence, to fire past Glennon at his right-hand post, despite the 'keeper guessing the right way, to seal a dream afternoon and notch his 30th of the season. United could now touch promotion, as well as taste it, and Sharp was just one goal short of Barrie Thomas' club record.

He then very nearly reached it, almost securing his first hat-trick for the club, when he fired an effort wide of Glennon's bottom right-hand post during stoppage time.

That was the last real action of the game as the Scunthorpe players and support toasted promotion, the fans invaded the pitch, mobbing the United players, and the celebrations were set to go on throughout the night. Not just that night, but three more weeks worth of nights.

On This Matchday

A look back at past results from April 19, the day on which Scunthorpe host Cardiff City this season.

1952 D3N Stockport County H D 1-1
1954 D3N Barnsley A W 1-0
1957 D3N Gateshead H L 1-2
1958 D3N York City H L 1-2
1968 DIV3 Swindon Town H W 3-1
1972 DIV4 Chester A D 0-0
1975 DIV4 Cambridge United A L 0-2
1976 DIV4 Doncaster Rovers A W 1-0
1977 DIV4 Newport County H W 1-0
1985 DIV4 Hartlepool United H W 2-0
1988 DIV4 Bolton Wanderers A D 0-0
1997 LD3 Lincoln City A L 0-2
2003 LD3 Hartlepool United H W 4-0

Born On This Week

April 14 - John Watson (1974)
April 15 - Neil MacKenzie (1976)
April 17 - Barry Lindsey (1944), Ian Walton (1958)
April 18 - George Wallace (1920)
April 19 - Stewart Bramley (1946)
April 20 - Harry Lamb (1958), Gary Marshall (1964)