The Iron's juniors slipped to an undeserved 1-0 loss against Hull City at Birch Park on Saturday morning.

Tony Daws' side were dominant against the Tigers, particularly in the second-half, but couldn't find the goals that their display deserved.

Daws explained: "I thought that we passed the ball very well, we played at a real high tempo, created numerous chances to score and looked incredibly fit.

"On a luckier day we could have scored four or five goals, that really has been the story of our season so far."

Playing against a Premier League youth side, Scunthorpe could have taken an early lead through Danny Wright (pictured) after a good cross from Marcus Gibbs, who scored a hat-trick in last week's 7-1 win at Mansfield.

Hull were always a danger, but captain Niall Canavan almost gave the hosts the lead when he glanced a header wide.

The visitors went ahead on 16 minutes when right-winger Danny Gibbons failed to track and block a cross, allowing Tigers striker Cullen to head home at the far post with Iron keeper Ross Hyslop slow to react.

The Iron responded well and had a clear penalty turned down when Gibbs was played clean through into the penalty area and was felled as he shaped to shoot.

Scunthorpe dominated after the break, with their superior fitness helping them peg back the opposition.

Canavan's header across goal just needed a touch from another United player for that elusive equaliser but, unfortunately, the Iron couldn't find it.

Gibbs came close with a shot that went just wide, while Gibbons could have done better after Josh Thomas' cross was waiting to be fired in.

Scunthorpe switched tactics as the clock ticked by and continued to dominate as chances went begging.

Canavan hurled another long throw in to the box and Jack Cross blasted the clearance over the City bar for their final chance.

It had been an excellent performance by United's youngsters and a game where they deserved at least a draw and probably a win.

The youth team are in action again next Saturday when they host Grimsby Town at Bottesford Town's Birch Park in the second round of the Puma Youth Alliance Cup (11.00am kick-off). Admission is FREE and it is the perfect warm-up for the first team's top of the table encounter with Leicester City.

See The Iron matchday magazine next Saturday afternoon for three pages of youth team coverage, including a full, in-depth report from the game with Hull City by youth development officer Tony Daws.