Burton Albion Youths 1-5 Scunthorpe United Youths
Report from the FA National Football Centre

The Iron's youth team returned to winning ways in stunning style with a 5-1 victory at Burton Albion on Saturday morning.

After a lengthy journey to the East Midlands, the Iron played their first ever game against a club who have joined the Football League Youth Development programme this season.

Burton had to change at the Pirelli Stadium before a 20 minute journey to the FA National Football Centre (the Centre that never was) before kicking off in driving rain on a superb pitch.

The Iron started the game in whirlwind style, taking the lead after only three minutes.

Jake Turner's huge goal kick sailed over the Burton defence and striker Marcus Gibbs raced on to the throughball to blast hard and low past the Albion keeper Marsh giving United a dream start.

The Iron almost extended their lead four minutes later when Kieron McCaffrey's corner was cleared to Sam Comer who shot over from just outside the penalty box.

United were dominating the home team and Jordan Thewlis was causing problems with his pace and dribbling skills. Thewlis was fouled in the ninth minute and the resulting free kick saw Ashley Palmer presented with a great chance but he could only manage to put his free header wide when well positioned to score.

Josh Thomas followed up on a Burton back pass on the quarter of an hour mark. The home keeper's clearance was picked up by Gibbs who shot inches wide of the far post as United threatened to score with every attack.

Totally against the run of play and for all of the Iron's dominance, Burton equalised on 20 minutes. A long ball over the top caught out United right back Alfred Gbanie and Albion striker Isaac Minott lobbed advancing visiting keeper, Jake Turner to level the scores.

For 20 minutes the game was equal as Burton gained confidence from their goal but neither team looked like scoring at this stage as they cancelled each other out.

United nudged themselves in front again on 40 minutes. Gibbs hit the corner long and it was Ashley Palmer who headed the ball back across goal for Richard Dean to head home from close range restoring the Iron's advantage.

Thewlis was working well for United and he was brought down again on 42 minutes just wide of the goals and just outside the home penalty area. Gibbs stepped forward to whip a terrific free kick around the wall and in to the top corner. However, before he could celebrate Burton keeper Daniel Marsh went full length and somehow managed to tip the effort wide for a corner much to Gibbs' disappointment.

Thewlis was instrumental again on 43 minutes when his vicious shot was spilled by Marsh and as Gibbs pounced on the rebound Marsh could only take the Iron striker's legs and the referee pointed to the spot.

Gibbs stepped forward to confidently lash the penalty home in to the top corner to put the Iron in to a 3-1 half time lead.

On 65 minutes, defender Gbanie was replaced by Aron Wint as United put on an extra striker to try to finish the game off.

United dominated the second half and Thomas saw his header cleared off the line on 68 minutes as Burton found United in fine form during the second half.

Josh Thomas was replaced by U16 striker James Thomas with 15 minutes remaining on the clock.

Wint made a good run down Burton's left before pulling his cross back to the unmarked Gibbs on the penalty spot. Gibbs did not adjust in time and he screwed his left footed effort wide of goal when perhaps he should have scored.

United were pushing for another goal and James Thomas latched on to a through ball with 10 minutes remaining before elegantly clipping the ball over the advancing home keeper and in to the far corner to notch the Iron's fourth goal of the game.

On 87 minutes fellow U16 player Ashley Jackson replaced Gibbs and Jackson scored with his first touch of the ball when moving forward on to a through ball from Thomas before lashing his shot beyond the Albion keeper to wrap the game up for United.

Youth development officer Tony Daws said: "Scoreline wise, we have done well today and we played some good stuff at times.

"We actually passed the ball and played a lot better last week against Chesterfield where we were very, very unlucky to lose the game.

"The main difference was that today, we took our chances. Well done to the boys."