Scunthorpe United Reserves 0-3 Middlesbrough Reserves
Report from Glanford Park
United's reserves were beaten 3-0 by their Middlesbrough counterparts on Tuesday night following a dominant second-half display from the visitors in the first game of the new totesport.com Central East Division season.
The Iron had the most chances in an even first half in terms of possession, with Peter Winn and Garry Thompson both going close, but it was former Premier Reserve League outfit Boro who were on top in the second period.
After Adam Boyes drew an excellent stop from away goalkeeper Jason Steele early in the second period, Luke Williams, Jonathan Franks and Joe Bennett all notched in the final 20 minutes.
The game got off to a slow start with chances at a premium during the opening 10 minutes, with the only notable action being Ben May receiving treatment after winning a header and falling heavilly. He recovered though and played the full 90 minutes.
13 minutes in, Winn dragged an effort just wide for United after being played clear down the left flank. His shot from just inside the area was only just off target though, with the visiting goalkeeper beaten.
Boyes then drew a good stop from goalkeeper Steele with an effort on the turn after Ian Morris' throw-in from the left.
A cross from Winn drew a decent save from Steele again as the hosts looked to make the most of their home advantage.
Williams struck a shot just wide for the visiting team soon after as they continued to prove a danger on the break.
Then, Gary Martin dragged an effort wide for Boro from the edge of the area under the Glanford Park floodlights.
Captain for the night, Thompson - urged by the club coaching staff to run at players - cut inside from the right for the Iron on 30 minutes but saw his shot stopped by Steele.
A free-kick by Middlesbrough's David Atkinson was then well handled by Sam Slocombe in the United goal.
In the 33rd minute, Jack Cross had a shot from distance tipped out by Steele while one minute before half-time Thompson's trickery saw him find space and fire in a shot which was punched out by the Boro custodian.
The rain lashed down at half-time and continued well into the second half, and Scunthorpe had the first chance as Morris' excellent cross from the left was met by a header from Boyes, with Steele diving well to stop.
It proved the best chance the hosts would have to break the deadlock as Boro started to become dominant going forward, having a lot of possession in the Scunthorpe half.
They took the lead in the 72nd minute when their young winger Williams guided an effort past Slocombe from the left hand side of the penalty area.
Seven minutes later it was two, as Jonathan Franks fired home from a Williams cross from just six yards out.
Joe Maguire struck a couple of efforts goalwards from range before the visitors added a third - left-back Joe Bennett this time getting in on the act as he guided a low shot past Slocombe from the left hand side of the 18-yard box to cap the scoring.
TEAM LINE-UPS
Scunthorpe United: Slocombe, J. Williams, Morris, Palmer, Canavan, Cross, Thompson (c), Maguire, May, Boyes, Winn.
Substitutes not used: Thomas, Gbanie, Comer, McCaffrey, Turner.
Middlesbrough: Steele, Atkinson, Bennett, Smallwood, Hines, J. Johnson, Williams, Walker, Franks, Martin (Hawkins, 85), Cronesberry.
Substitutes not used: Weldon, Oliver, Otte, Smith.
Attendance: 259.
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