United were beaten 4-1 by a strong Notts County side on Saturday afternoon at Glanford Park.

Interim first team manager Michael Nelson took charge of the Iron for the first time and he made four changes to the United starting line-up from last Saturday’s game against Wealdstone, as Rob Apter, Ethan Young, Jai Rowe and Reagan Ogle all came into the side. Former Iron goalkeeper Sam Slocombe started for the visitors, as well as former United loanee Jim O’Brien.

Notts County were the ones to kick off and they looked to control the match from early on by playing a possession-based game.

The visitors created the first chance of the game. Tobi Adebayo-Rowling drilled a ball across the six-yard-box from a wide position. It was a dangerous cross but no one could get on the end of it and turn it home.

United’s first chance came after a good counter attack. The Iron cleared the ball after a County corner and Alfie Beestin drove a distance with the ball before he slotted Apter through. The Iron winger had a lot to do. He cut inside of the two defenders ahead of him and he fired his shot miles over the bar.

Notts County almost grabbed the first goal of the game when Quevin De Castro played the ball through to Ruben Rodrigues. Rodrigues delayed his shot as he was closed down quickly but he managed to find a bit of space in the 18-yard-box and he drilled an effort toward the bottom-left corner. His effort went just inches past the post.

Richard Brindley tested his luck from range with a half-volley. The ball found its way out to Brindley, who was just outside the box, and he took a touch and struck the ball goalward. Marcus Dewhurst was worried but the shot trickled just past the right-upright.

In the 19th minute, the Iron took the lead. A direct, marauding run from his own half by Beestin took several Notts County defenders out of the game. This allowed Caolan Lavery space on the left-hand side of the penalty area. Beestin spotted Lavery and rolled the ball over to the Iron striker. He had time to pick where he was going to place his shot. He opted to go hard and low, and he slotted the ball past Slocombe and into the bottom-left corner.

Just minutes later, De Castro equalised for the visitors. He found himself unmarked just inside the Iron box and he received the ball from his teammate. The shot was taken on first time and he curled the ball into the bottom corner. There wasn’t much pace on the shot but it was the placement which beat the United number one. The game was level once again.

Rodrigues nearly gave the visitors the lead. He took a free-kick from the edge of the United area and it looped over the wall and was heading into the top corner. Dewhurst realised the danger and produced an acrobatic save.

This wasted chance didn’t matter as they took the lead minutes later. De Castro was involved again but he turned provider this time. He laid the ball off to O’Brien and the former Iron loanee struck the ball first time from around 30-yards-out. His shot nestled into the bottom-left corner.

Macaulay Langstaff grabbed a third goal for the visitors towards the end of the first half. O’Brien took on another long shot and it was deflected so Dewhurst had to readjust and stretch his leg out to make the save. Langstaff was the first to react when the ball rebounded and he acrobatically volleyed the ball home and this gave Notts County breathing space in the game. Langstaff looked to be offside but no flag went up and the goal stood.

Scunthorpe were the ones to get the second half underway and they needed to bounced back immediately. Within the first ten seconds of the half, Lavery found himself inside the Notts County box and he got his shot away. The angle was against him and his shot went into the side netting. It was an early warning sign for the away side.

County dominated the ball early in the second half but they didn’t create many chances. 

Apter tried an effort on goal when he beat a defender with some neat footwork and cut inside. He wrapped his foot around the ball but he saw his effort go straight at Slocombe and it was an easy save for him.

County were close to grabbing a fourth goal in the 75th minute of the game. A miskick by an Iron defender directed the ball towards his own goal. The ball was heading out but Langstaff acrobatically directed the ball back into the six-yard-box and the ball was almost turned home but an Iron player got their first to clear the danger.

United had a shout for a penalty after a Jacob Butterfield corner was attacked by Lavery and his header was believed to have struck the hand of a Notts County player. There were shouts from the Scunthorpe supporters and players but nothing was given.

County grabbed another goal later on in the half. A low cross into the box by Matty Palmer caused chaos in the home side’s penalty area and Dewhurst was called into action. The Iron keeper had to make a reflex save and tip the ball onto the upright. However, the ball rebounded off the post and found its way to substitute Cedwyn Scott. He simply slotted the ball home to give the visitors a 4-1 lead.

The Iron travel to Yeovil in their next fixture next Saturday.

IRON: Dewhurst, Ogle, Boyce, Beestin (Pugh, 73), Carver (Wilson, 65), Rowe, Lavery, Young, Taft, Butterfield, Apter.

IRON SUBS NOT USED: Foster, O’Malley, Daniel.

NOTTS COUNTY: Slocombe, Brindley, Cameron, O’Brien (Francis, 65), Langstaff (Scott, 75), De Castro (Austin, 55), Baldwin, Palmer, Rodrigues, Adebayo-Rowling, Chicksen.

NOTTS COUNTY SUBS NOT USED: Mitchell, Bajrami, Scott.

ATTENDANCE: 4,196.