The Iron’s Under-18 team drew 2-2 at home to Oldham Athletic on Saturday lunchtime.

The visitors took a 1-0 lead in the first-half, but after the break, goals from Finley Shrimpton and Joey Dawson put United in front.

However with 12 minutes remaining, Oldham scored an equaliser.

The Iron started brightly inside the opening five minutes, applying high pressure. However, no-one could get on the end of Luca Chadli’s inviting cross after he advanced down the right-wing. 

Ten minutes later, Oldham had their first opportunity of the match from a corner kick. They worked the ball into the area, but the visitors shot the ball wide.

A long goal-kick from Tom Collins was then sent forward, which Cameron Wilson ran onto. The Iron player was brought down in the area by a defender, but the referee didn’t award them a penalty. 

In the 21st minute, Oldham took a 1-0 lead. They cut the ball back to their full-back, who struck a volley into the corner of the net.

Just one minute later, the Iron could have grabbed an immediate equaliser from a free-kick. Chadli swung the set-piece into the area and Charlie Barks headed the ball over the bar.

The Latics then came close to doubling their lead, but their midfielder fired an effort just wide of the target.

After half-time, Scunthorpe changed their formation and got off to a positive start when Wilson’s cross was turned home by first-half substitute Shrimpton, finishing the ball into the bottom corner.

Continuing to press Oldham, Chadli went close to putting the Iron in front. Dawson put a cross into the area, but Chadli failed to get on the end of the cross. 

In the 68th minute, Scunthorpe went 2-1 up. Chadli received the ball in a wide left position and sent a perfect cross towards Dawson, who peeled off his marker and side-footed a volley into the back of the net.

Oldham then put bodies forward in search for an equaliser and they got their goal 12 minutes from the end of the match. They counter-attacked with their midfielder, who carried the ball from the halfway line to send a shot past Collins. 

Both sides pushed to find a winning goal, but the game finished 2-2.

It was a very promising performance from a very young side against their second-year apprentices. United's coaching staff were pleased with the second-half performance and we now face Huddersfield at home next week.

Scunthorpe United: T. Collins, Baker, Lobley, Claxton (Shrimpton, 36’), Barks, Harrison, D. Gallimore, Wilson, Dawson, Jessop, Chadli. 
Unused substitutes: Crosher, Kemp.