The Iron’s Under-18 side fell to a 2-0 defeat away at Lincoln City on Saturday lunchtime.

However, the team can still be pleased with a positive showing throughout the 90 minutes - only to lose the game courtesy of two penalties. 

The first half was very evenly contested with both sides having a fair share of chances. Lincoln had the first opportunity of the game 15 minutes in when a corner ball was whipped in, but nobody could get on the end of it and United were able to clear the danger. 

26 minutes in, and it was the Iron’s turn to attack. Tom Pugh ran down the wing before he delivered a dangerous looking cross towards Levi Gallimore. However, he couldn’t quite get on the end of it. 

Scunthorpe continued to attack and just a few minutes later, a good bit of play saw the ball get switched to the opposite flank with Harry Baker shooting from 20 yards out under pressure from the Lincoln defence but, unfortunately, he dragged his shot just wide of the target. 

Again, the Iron searched for the opening goal and were unlucky not to be ahead when Louis Collins struck the post in the 35th minute after a good turn in the box. 

Lincoln then looked to assert some pressure of their own. They had a decent opportunity a minute later but failed to capitalise and the game headed into the half-time interval with neither side able to break the deadlock.  

As the second half got underway, United continued to look bright and started the half well once again. Gallimore had an opportunity on 46 minutes when he got to the ball in front of the goalkeeper, but the opposition defender did well to recover and clear off the line. 

Shortly after, Aidan Train drove forward from the left back position before he cut inside and curled a right-footed shot inches wide of the post. 

On the 58th minute, Pugh fired a free-kick towards goal, but the goalkeeper tipped the ball onto the crossbar and out for a corner as, once again, the Iron came close to taking the lead. 

A few minutes later, Pugh struck the woodwork again from 25 yards, but the ball bounced clear. 

64 minutes in, United had a good counter attack when Harry Jessop crossed the ball towards Collins, who was poised to strike the ball home, but the Lincoln defence somehow managed to clear.

The Iron continued to dominate, but then Lincoln were awarded a penalty in the 73rd minute when Sam Riches brought down the centre forward inside the box after a ball was played over the top between the defence and the goalkeeper. The resulting penalty was tucked away, and the hosts went one nil up. 

Riches then made a brilliant save from Lincoln’s pacy striker when he was put through one-on-one, as the goalkeeper stayed big and denied the home side from doubling their advantage. 

On the 88 minute mark, another penalty was given to Lincoln when their striker cut inside the area from the right before Pugh brought him down and the penalty was converted to give the hosts a two-goal lead.

United looked to get on the scoresheet and pull one back in the dying embers of the game when Charlie Barks header cannoned back off the crossbar.

Nevertheless, despite defeat, it was a good team performance from the Iron as they created plenty of chances and looked dangerous for the majority of the game. 

Iron team: Riches, Baker, Train, Harrison, Barks, Morfoot (L Colclough, 89), Gallimore, Pugh, L Collins (Chadli, 50), Silva, Okafor (Jessop, 62).

Substitutes not used: Crosher, Shrimpton.