Preview: Harrogate Town (A)

1 December 2020

The Iron play their first game in a week when they visit Harrogate Town on Tuesday night (7pm kick-off).

Get your £10 match pass for Harrogate Town v the Iron

30 November 2020

SCENE-SETTER...

Last Tuesday night's narrow 1-0 home loss to a resurgent Bolton Wanderers was the culmination of a spell which saw six games played in 16 days, following the return of a large number of the squad from COVID-19-related self-isolation.

Prior to that game, Scunthorpe had been unbeaten in three matches and put in improved performances, so first team manager Neil Cox will be hoping the players' freshness following the week off from action will result in them putting in a performance that gets three points at Harrogate.

United sit second bottom in the division but recent performances have raised morale and the team will be hoping to climb away from the bottom two during the eight games they have in December.

THE OPPOSITION...

Cox will be familiar with the opposition, who won promotion to the EFL for the first time in their 106-year history in August after defeating Notts County, where he was assistant manager, 3-1 at Wembley Stadium.

The Sulphurites' last encounter came at the weekend when they were dumped out of the Emirates FA Cup at the second round stage following a 4-0 win for away side Blackpool. The win for the Tangerines also included a goal for former Iron loanee Jordan Gabriel, while Harrogate's Kevin Lokko was dismissed with a minute to go for the denial of an obvious goalscoring offence.

Town's last league game came last Tuesday when they emerged 1-0 victors at Mansfield Town through a 27th-minute winner from Calvin Miller.

They sit 12th in the division having accrued 19 points so far. Midfielder George Thomson and defender Connor Hall top their appearance tables with 14 league starts so far.

Their top scorer is former Iron youth trainee Jack Muldoon with seven league strikes to his name. After leaving us, he subsequently represented Brigg Town, Sheffield, Glapwell, Alfreton Town, Stocksbridge Park Steels, North Ferriby United and Worksop Town. With the latter he scored 21 league goals during the campaign, attracting interest from Football League clubs. He went on to play for Rochdale, shine at Lincoln City and continue his progression with AFC Fylde and Harrogate.

TEAM NEWS...

United will be without Kevin van Veen, Junior Brown and Olufela Olomola for the match.

The latter two were both injury victims from the game against Bolton Wanderers a week ago, with Brown on the sidelines for "weeks rather than days" following a slight tear in his thigh muscle. Olomola faces three months on the sidelines following a knee injury sustained after coming off the bench against the Trotters.

The Dutchman won't be involved as he makes steady progress after lasting just 11 minutes against Morecambe 10 days ago. He will be out of the Iron's next two games at least.

Meanwhile, Harrison McGahey and Manny Onariase, who both picked up knocks against Bolton, look set to be passed fit to play at Harrogate.

Jake Taylor also returns to contention following two weeks of isolation after coming into close contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19, while Harry Jessop is awaiting scan results and advice from a specialist after picking up a shoulder injury in training.

ELSEWHERE IN SKY BET LEAGUE TWO...
TUESDAY
Bradford City v Cheltenham Town (7pm)
Colchester United v Crawley Town (7pm)
Forest Green Rovers v Newport County (7pm)
Grimsby Town v Exeter City (7pm)
Morecambe v Barrow (7pm)
Oldham Athletic v Tranmere Rovers (7pm)

WEDNESDAY
Cambridge United v Mansfield Town (7pm)
Carlisle United v Salford City (7pm)
Walsall v Stevenage (7pm)

Match Reports

Report: Harrogate Town 2-5 Iron

1 December 2020

Abo Eisa scored twice, with Emmanuel Onariase, Ryan Loft and Aaron Jarvis also on target, as United emerged 5-2 victors at Harrogate Town on Tuesday night.

The game saw the Iron score five goals in a game for the first time since October 2018, versus Charlton Athletic, and five in an away match for the first time since the 5-5 League Cup draw at Derby County in 2012.

The team saw three changes from last Tuesday against Bolton Wanderers going into the game as Jordan Clarke, Mason O’Malley and John McAtee came in for Jacob Bedeau, Junior Brown and Devarn Green.

The Iron had a quick start to the match, as Abo Eisa made a run forward, going between two players before he won a corner. His second cross was towards the back post, as both Alex Gilliead and Emmanuel Onariase went for the ball, with the latter getting contact but their header bounced over the bar.

Eight minutes in, Eisa kept up the onslaught of attacks as he took a shot which ricocheted to give the Iron a corner. Despite Eisa and Gilliead's efforts, nothing came from it.

With 13 minutes gone, McAtee put pressure on the Harrogate backline as he chased the ball back to the goalkeeper James Belshaw.

Then, after 16 minutes, the Iron scored as Onariase stabbed an effort towards the goal. Belshaw attempted to make the save but assistant referee Abbas Khan said the ball had crossed the line.

Two minutes after, Belshaw claimed O’Malley’s cross from the left as Harrison McGahey picked up the possession from Eisa’s free-kick into the area but was barely cleared.

With 20 minutes gone, McAtee picked up a loose ball before he switched play to Jordan Clarke. He pushed forward to only see his cross go wide.

Three minutes later, Spence latched onto another ball before Eisa went down the left. Due to the home team crowding, the Iron were forced back.

With 29 minutes played, there was great play from Eisa as his first touch took him on the inside before shooting goalwards. This was cleared to go out for a corner.

Five minutes later, the hosts cleared the ball well before Gilliead stole down the right just before his low cross was cleared away.

After 34 minutes, former Iron youth player Jack Muldoon equalised for the hosts after he smashed the ball into the roof of the net following a free-kick into the area.

With 41 minutes gone, United regained the lead as Eisa scored after Alfie Beestin combined with McAtee. The ball was slotted to Eisa who rolled it to the far corner of the net.

In the three minutes of stoppage time, O’Malley defended well as the ball went into the six-yard box. He blocked the ball well and then Mark Howard got possession.

With 46 minutes played, Lewis Spence took advantage of the hosts' uncertainty and swung a cross in. This was lashed behind for a corner. The resultant set-piece was hooked clear.

Four minutes later, Loft defended well against Thompson before Onariase cleared the cross.

With 54 minutes gone, McAtee and Spence jabbed the ball clear as the hosts continued their onslaught of attacks.

Two minutes later, McAtee and Loft pressured the defence as the ball was loose before Gilliead picked up the ball on the right and won a throw-in.

With 62 minutes gone, the Iron got a penalty after a foul, which Eisa duly converted for his second of the night. Belshaw went the right way but he couldn’t save it.

Nine minutes later, Beestin slotted a ball to Eisa. He strode towards the goal but Belshaw gathered it quickly.

With 72 minutes played, the Iron scored again and made it 4-1. Harrogate were furious as they felt like the ball was out. Gilliead kept it in play and crossed to Loft, who stabbed it home.

Then, after 88 minutes, substitute Aaron Jarvis added to the goals as he capitalised on an error to extend the lead further.

Two minutes into the four of stoppage time, Connor Hall fired a shot into the net as a consolation goal for the hosts.

Scunthorpe make a quick return to action on Saturday when they play at home against Leyton Orient (1pm kick-off).

HARROGATE: Belshaw, Falkingham, Burrell, Thomson, Beck, Lawlor, Kirby (Kiernan, 46), Kerry (Martin, 67), Muldoon, Miller, Hall.

HARROGATE SUBS: Cracknell, Stead.

IRON: Howard, Clarke (Rowe, 77), McGahey, Onariase, Gilliead, Loft (Jarvis, 73), Eisa, Spence, Beestin, O'Malley, McAtee (Taylor, 73).

IRON SUBS: Watson, Bedeau, Green, Hallam.