Following an impressive triumph over Alfreton Town in the midweek leading up to today’s game against Gainsborough Trinity, United came into the encounter with the Holy Blues looking to get more important pre-season minutes into the legs with the season fast approaching.
Scunthorpe got the game underway at an immediate high tempo and set about trying to find an early goal. United would appear to do just this inside the opening minute when a long ranged effort cannoned back off the hosts post and found Dec Howe in the penalty area who smashed home the rebound to open the scoring against his former club. However, Howe’s celebrations would be cut short due to the offside flag being raised, despite replays suggesting the Iron forward was onside when the ball was played.
Following this opportunity the Iron would continue their onslaught on the Holy Blues defence and midfield man Oli Ewing would create the next chance after some expert trickery to escape his marker, after a tight turn to work some space Ewing would waltz into the Gainsborough box before stinging an effort at goal that was deflected just wide of the post.
The hosts had struggled to get out of their own half in the opening exchanges but would come close to opening the scores through forward Frank Mulhern. After beating the offside trap the former Scarborough striker would attempt to lob goalkeeper Maison Campbell however his effort was too powerful and cleared the crossbar.
Scunthorpe’s best chance of the first half would come following a fantastic forward run from Joe Starbuck, the wing-back broke into the Trinity penalty area to meet a sublime cross to the back post from Dubem Eze, however Starbuck’s volley failed to trouble the keeper as it narrowly went over the bar from close range.
This would be the final chance of a slow paced first half and with almost full-scale changes at half-time United would go into the second period refreshed and ready to take on the hosts.
Substitute Kian Scales would introduce himself to the fixture within the half’s opening minutes as the midfielder gallivanted down the left hand side and looked to chop onto his right-foot. After working space for a shot, Scales would see his effort soar high and wide of the crossbar but it was an early warning sign for Gainsborough nonetheless.
With the terrible conditions making it difficult for both teams to play any form of attractive football the hosts would make the most of the weather by creating some chances of their own.
Firstly, after a cunning break into the Scunthorpe penalty area a cross would be pulled back to the feet of former United forward Jonny Margetts in the penalty box, however the forward couldn’t provide a finishing touch as his shot was swept off the line by a crowd of bodies.
Following this chance the Holy Blues would take the lead in unfortunate circumstances. A deep cross to the back post was bound to be tapped home if not for defensive intervention, however United trialist Harry Shipstone’s attempt to clear would see him turn the ball into his own net for 1-0.
For the remainder of proceedings the Iron would flood forward in a desperate attempt to try and find an equaliser. The closest Scunthorpe would come to breaking through the Gainsborough defence would be from a set-piece, substitute Billy Chadwick would come unbelievably close to his second goal in as many games as the York City loanee sent a stunning effort at goal that soared narrowly wide of the target to condemn United to a defeat.
Despite narrowly being defeated at Northolme it was more vital minutes in the legs for Andy Butler’s Iron who look immediately ahead to their next encounter against Skegness Town on Tuesday evening.
IRON: Campbell (Watson, 45), Belehouan (Horton, 59), Evans (Shipstone, 67), Boyce, Howe (Ubaezuonu, 59), Beestin (Dawson, 45), Roberts (Chadwick, 45), Eze (Brogan, 45), Ewing (Scales, 45), Starbuck (Beck, 45), Denton (Simmonds, 75).
REFEREE: Ethan Nundy
ATTENDANCE: TBC
