United came from behind to grab all three points in a 3-1 win against Gateshead under the lights at Glanford Park.

Scunthorpe came into the game having made four changes from Saturday’s game against Southend. George Taft dropped to the bench, while Mason O’Malley returned to the starting line-up along with Alfie Beestin and Caolan Lavery. Nat Wallace also made his first start of the season.

Rob Apter got the game underway and Andrew Boyce looked to send a long ball forward immediately to try and catch the Gateshead defence out. Gateshead were alert and they were the ones to win the first header and clear any potential danger.

The away side got themselves a corner within the first few minutes of the game after Reagan Ogle blocked a cross into the area. They attempted to play the ball short and find an opening from there but the Iron managed to get a tackle in and deal with the situation.

Lavery was the first United player to have an opportunity in the game. The striker pounced on a loose ball which came looping down from the air. He tried to bring the ball down but it bounced awkwardly and it got away from him.

However, the away side were the ones who took the lead in the game. In the 10th minute, Adi Yussuf tried to play a lofted pass to Adam Campbell but his pass was easily intercepted by Reagan Ogle. The Iron full-back then tried to play the ball back to Marcus Dewhurst but it was intercepted by Campbell and he coolly slotted the ball into the bottom-right-corner of the Iron net to put the away side in front.

Gateshead nearly grabbed a second goal after they won a free-kick on the edge of the United penalty area. Greg Olley stepped up and whipped the ball towards the far-left corner. His effort looped over the wall and almost crept into the Iron goal. Dewhurst got down quickly to his right and got a strong right hand onto the ball to tip it onto the upright and out for a corner. It was an excellent save which prevented Gateshead a second goal in the game.

The visitors had the momentum at that point and they whipped cross after cross into the home side’s penalty area. Gateshead won the first header and the ball went high up into the air and almost caught Dewhurst out. The Iron keeper managed to get there first but he was fouled in the process and the danger was over.

Alfie Beestin tested his look from around 25-yards-out. The midfielder had time and space and he was allowed to unleash a shot towards the target. His right-footed effort had the power but not the accuracy and it flew past the right-hand post and out for a goal kick.

Minutes later, Gateshead thought they had grabbed a second goal of the game. Another cross into the Iron area was met by Kamil Conteh at the front post and he saw his effort hit the post. The ball rebounded back into play and Carl Magnay slotted the ball home. It wasn’t long until he realised the assistant’s flag had gone up and the goal was ruled out for offside.

Jacob Butterfield found himself with a free-kick which was in a good position. He chipped the ball into the corridor pf uncertainty and there was a bit of a mix-up between the Gateshead defence and United got their head to the ball first and directed it goalward. The header was weak and it rolled into the arms of James Montgomery. It was a simple save for the Gateshead keeper.

The Iron continued to press on to try and find the equaliser and Joe Nuttall was presented with a chance. Lavery flicked the ball onto Nuttall and he was clean through on goal. He took the shot on with his left-foot and it beat Montgomery but it smacked the upright and bounced straight back to the Gateshead goalkeeper. This was a big chance for the Iron to get back in the game.

United earnt themselves a penalty towards the end of the first half. A chipped ball over to Boyce, who was on the left-hand-side, was met by the Iron centre-back and he headed the ball onto the arm of a Gateshead defender. The referee immediately pointed to the spot and Joe Nuttall stepped up and took responsibility for the penalty. He sent Montgomery the wrong way and he blasted the ball into the top-left corner. 

Gateshead got the second half underway and they were looking to immediately respond to that late first half goal. However, Scunthorpe were the ones who got the first chance of the half. Apter turned his man and attempted to curl an effort into the top-left corner from the edge of the area. He caught the ball all wrong and watched his effort sail over the crossbar.

In the 50th minute, United took the lead in the game. Butterfield curled a pinpoint ball into the area from a corner and his cross met the head of Lavery. The Iron striker unleashed a powerful header and his effort beat the goalkeeper and cannoned in off the bar. It was a perfect start to the second half for Scunthorpe.

The visitors responded and created a big chance a minute later. An excellent cross into the area was met by the head of Yussuf and he directed the ball goalward. However, Yussuf couldn’t convert and he headed over from six-yards-out. It was a golden opportunity to get back into the game.

Beestin tested his luck with another one of his edge of the box shots. Nuttall laid the ball off and Beestin chose to hit it first time but his effort was always curling away from goal and it went wide of the target.

Butterfield was the next player to step up and have an effort on goal. From 30-yards-out, he produced a strike which looked to be heading into the far corner. Montgomery was worried and he believed it was going in. However, the ball went just centimetres wide of the target.

Campbell tried to put the visitors level when he cut inside on his right foot and attempted direct a shot goalward. He beat several United players but his shot was weak and it was a simple save for Dewhurst to make.

A neat exchange between Campbell and Aaron Martin earnt the substitute some space inside the area. Martin had enough time to size up a shot and he went for power and not precision. The ball headed towards the far corner and looked to be a certain goal but O’Malley threw himself at the ball and made a goal-saving block.

In the 76th minute, Apter drove at the Gateshead defence but was forced wide and then he managed to find substitute Tom Pugh at the back post. He was unmarked and had a completely free header. He drove his header down and Montgomery had to make an excellent reflex save to deny the Iron taking a two-goal lead.

The away side tried to press on and grab the equaliser but United stood firm and continuously cleared their lines.

Substitute Cameron Wilson earnt the Iron a second penalty of the game in stoppage time when he drove into the box and was taken down by a Gateshead defender. Nuttall stepped up once again and slotted the ball into the bottom-right corner and that sealed the win for the home side.

IRON: Dewhurst, Ogle, O’Malley, Boyce, Beestin, Nuttall, Lavery (92’ Poulter), Butterfield, Ntlhe, Apter (86’ Wilson), Wallace (75’ Pugh).

IRON SUBS NOT USED: Foster, Taft.

GATESHEAD: Montgomery, Pye, Olley, Campbell, Ward(83’ Harris), Hasani (64’ Jarvis), Gallacher, Magnay, Mills, Conteh, Yussuf (63’ Martin).

GATESHEAD SUBS NOT USED: Langley.

ATTENDANCE: 2,338.