United fell to a 1-0 at home under the lights against league leaders Tamworth courtesy of a late goal from Dan Creaney that was aided by the Iron going down to 10 men midway through the second half.
The Iron returned to Attis Arena action to face league leaders Tamworth in a crucial promotion six pointer that could prove integral in both sides quest for promotion to the Vanarama National League. In the previous encounter at the Lamb Ground back on the opening game of the season, United triumphed 2-1 a result they would’ve be hoping to repeat.
First team manager Jimmy Dean made two alterations to the team that started and succeeded to beat Peterborough Sports 1-0 the weekend prior. Firstly, creative midfielder Jacob Butterfield returned to starting action following a recent concussion in replace of workhorse midfielder Tom Pugh, elsewhere as a result of winger Cal Roberts’s injury that he sustained at Peterborough, versatile midfielder Alfie Beestin saw himself inducted back into the starting line-up.
A fast-paced start was required in order to set the tone for the game, and after the visitors got the game underway it appeared that the Lambs were well and truly up for the fight as Ross Fitzsimons was called into early action between the sticks. A dangerous long throw into the box landed just shy of the six-yard line and onto the head of aerial threat Jordan Cullinane-Liburd who steered an effort goalward that forced a reaction stop out of Fitzsimons who gathered the rebound.
The affairs in the first half were proving to be one of half-chances as neither side was creating any opportunities of note as against the strong wins and noisy atmosphere it was proving touch conditions for both outfits.
The chances stayed scarce up until the 40th minute of play when the Iron came their closest to finding the opener yet when Jacob Butterfield delightfully floated a swift cross into the area that was flicked on by striker Danny Elliott who could only turn the ball into the welcoming grasp of goalkeeper Jas Singh.
That was to conclude the first half as referee Gareth Thomas blew his whistle given the end of the one minute of additional time, sending both teams in to reassess the tie ready for the second period.
The second half began in the same manner as the first with a number of shirts going remarkably high or wide of the target. This was until the 53rd minute of the game when Tamworth was handed the numerical advantage as left-back Tyler Denton was shown a red card for a pull back on former Coventry midfielder Kyle Finn, who found himself tumbling to the floor while he was bearing down on goal.
Despite finding themselves a man down the Iron were digging in deep and by no stretch making it easy for the visitors who still appeared vulnerable to a counterattack as they pushed on to find the opener.
With 10 minutes of heroic defending left to withstand, United found all their hard work undone from the most fortunate of circumstances. Scunthorpe managed to flick away an initial corner as the ball was recycled and swung in to find winger Ben Aquaye who managed to draw a superb diving save out of Fitzsimons, but the shot stopper could only palm the ball into the path of striker Dan Creaney who wheeled away in emphatic celebration.
With five minutes remaining, the Iron went inches away from clinching an equaliser as on the counter-attack Butterfield’s inch perfect pass was swept away from substitute Danny Whitehall by the sliding boot of Matt Curley who nearly diverted the ball into his own net if not for a great save from Jas Singh.
That was to be the last action of proceedings as the whistle sounded to condemn Scunthorpe to a narrow defeat which sets them 12 points back from their opponents.
IRON: Fitzsimons, Ogle, Kouogun, Evans, Clunan, Beestin (Whitehall, 66), Elliott (Kelly, 57), Wilson (Sembie-Ferris, 74), Butterfield, Scales, Denton.
IRON SUBS: Boyce, Pugh.
