Following a disappointing result the week prior that saw the Iron exit the Isuzu FA Trophy at the hands of Horsham FC, Scunthorpe were back in League action this afternoon, kickstarting a crucial month of February against a play-off pushing Southend United side who were looking to use the encounter as the perfect chance to establish a more consistent patch of form under manager Kevin Maher.
Regarding Scunthorpe’s team selection for the fixture, manager Andy Butler would field an identical starting XI to that of his side's 3-2 victory over Forest Green Rovers last time out in the Enterprise National League. With the only alteration to the squad coming amongst the substitutes as United’s latest loanee addition, Aidan Dausch came straight into the side mere hours after joining the club from Coventry City until the end of the season.
With the game underway at the Attis Arena, the Iron would find themselves under an enormous amount of early pressure from the visitors as the Shrimpers looked for a quick-fire opener.
The first chance of the game would come just shy of 10 minutes into the fixture when the visitors used their control of the fixture’s possession to spread play out to the right flank, allowing for a cross to be whipped into the area for Southend’s star striker Andy Dallas to latch onto. Looking to cushion the ball into the bottom corner, Dallas would nod the ball down towards the target, leaving Rory Mahady scrambling as he shepherded the ball around the post.
With the opening period ticking along, it was safe to say that it had been a lacklustre display from both sides, with very little to report. The Shrimpers were in almost complete control of the ball, but United were keeping the door firmly closed on their opponents with some valiant defending.
As Scunthorpe looked to grow into the fixture, they would see their first sight of goal on the counterattack when United broke swiftly from a corner through Kyle Hurst. Threading the ball forward into the feet of Oli Ewing, Hurst would race forward in support. However, the Scunthorpe midfielder wouldn’t need him as he whipped a delicious low cross into the area for Danny Whitehall to control, allowing him to fire a volley towards the target that seemed goal-bound until the intervention of a diving Southend defender to turn the ball round the post.
With the halfway point on the horizon and United seemingly growing into the encounter, they would make the perfect end to the half by taking the lead from out of nowhere. Another slick counter from one end to the other, Tyler Denton would switch the ball into the path of Roberts on the right, with two Southend defenders left to beat. The winger would somehow force the ball between the defenders, leaving himself with an easy finish from a matter of yards to give his side the lead.
With Scunthorpe’s advantage somewhat undeserved based on the run of play, the Iron would go into the second period requiring an almighty performance if they were to see out a very important result on home turf. Especially with Southend out of the tunnel early and visibly raring to search for the equaliser.
Straight for the restart, the Iron were looking to build on their lead, reversing the roles of the first period with their own early onslaught towards the Shrimpers’ goal.
With 52 minutes on the clock, Scunthorpe would come their closest to expanding on the advantage through Whitehall as the forward broke the visitors’ offside trap to meet Zain Westbrooke’s hopeful pass over the top. Bearing down on goal in what was a golden chance, Whitehall would perfectly connect with the ball on the half-volley, driving it towards the bottom corner with only the post denying him as the ball somehow cannoned back off the woodwork.
As the half progressed, Southend would rediscover their form from the first period as they began to take control of the fixture. Winning the ball back in a promising position, it would be Dallas again for the visitors to cause problems as he stormed into the area, forcing the ball through a crowd to test Mahady, with the Leeds United loanee more than equal to the shot as he parried it away from the post.
With just over half an hour remaining and Southend in desperate search of an equaliser, they would introduce former Iron forward Tom Hopper to the fray, who would make an almost immediate impact as penalty drama ensued at the Attis Arena. After scrappily receiving the ball in the area, Hopper would round Mahady with an open net to slot the ball into. He would appear to be hounded by a recovering Horton, hitting the deck as a result, although the contact referee Ben Atkinson opted to dismiss the penalty claims.
With time dragging on and Scunthorpe’s lead still slender, they would have the chance to double their advantage when Roberts broke on the counter from his own half. Carrying the ball forward, Roberts would have multiple options in the debutant Dausch and Whitehall in front of him, opting instead for a solo strike from the edge of the box that forced Mason into a reaction stop, tipping the ball around the post.
With United hanging on, Southend failed to create any real opportunities from the 80th minute onwards, with their final chance to draw level sensationally denied by Mahady, as the goalkeeper dived down to keep Dallas’s effort out of the bottom corner, somehow managing to smother the rebound and topping off a man of the match display.
With Atkinson’s final whistle soon to follow, it would confirm a vital three points for the Iron, who moved up to a fantastic third position in the Enterprise League standings, leapfrogging Tuesday night’s opponents Carlisle, setting up yet another scintillating encounter at Brunton Park.
IRON: Mahady, Horton, Evans, Whitehall (Beestin, 84), Roberts (Ubaezuonu, 90+4), Rowley, Ewing (Smith, 84), Hurst (Dausch, 58), Westbrooke, Denton, Barrows (Starbuck, 90+4).
IRON SUBS: Jones, Dawson.
REFEREE: Ben Atkinson
ATTENDANCE: 5298 (402 away)
