Cameron Wilson was on target with a well-taken goal but United were narrowly beaten 2-1 in a Youth Alliance Cup clash against Salford City at West Street, Winterton.
“We’re disappointed because performance-wise, we didn’t play anywhere near what we’re capable of doing,” said academy manager Tony Daws.
“We didn’t start the game well and had a mountain to climb, as we never got started today.
“We changed it around a little bit at half-time and were better in the second half, although it helped with them having a player sent off.
“We looked livelier and hungrier in the second-half, which was a better performance. We were a little unfortunate in the end not to claim a draw.”
The first shot came the way of Finley Shrimpton with two minutes gone, as Raynner Silva and Patrick Virgo combined before a cross was cleared as far as the skipper. His effort went over the crossbar though.
Just a minute later, Salford took the lead when a left-wing cross was sent in and then converted home from close range.
Tom Collins made a point-blank save in the fifth minute as he stopped a visiting attacker in his tracks down the left side of the area. Harry Baker then cleared away the loose ball.
Charlie Barks got on the end of a Iron attacking free-kick, as Cameron Wilson and Silva combined down the right before sending a ball into the back post. The centre-back’s header into the danger area was cleared away though.
Then, Silva took a corner on the left side which reached Oliver Kemp at the back post, but his attempt to put the ball back into the danger area was cleared. The away team then attacked straight after and fired wide from distance.
With 14 minutes gone, the Salford left-back flicked the ball up and sent a volley just wide of the post from the edge of the area. They soon attacked again, down the right, but firing over the crossbar.
The away side then switched play from right to left, and Kemp stuck a foot in to challenge well before a low shot was sent in which Collins gathered low down to his right.
On 20 minutes, Shrimpton played a great ball, which reached Dan Gallimore on the left. He did well to hold up play before passing back to Silva, whose low effort was saved.
Just a minute later, the away team doubled their advantage as an attacker went down under a challenge following a left-wing cross and a penalty was awarded. Collins guessed the right way, diving right, but the shot had too much power for the shotstopper to keep it out.
The visitors looked to add to their lead and came close again in the 24thminute as they attacked down the left and sent a low shot across goal, which Collins got down well to save. Three minutes after, he made another good stop, diving down low to his left to keep the shot out.
The 33rd minute saw Scunthorpe’s best chance so far, as Dan Gallimore played a free-kick out wide to Wilson, whose low cross was met by Jessop but deflected over the bar.
There were some chances late on in the half, with Silva sending a half-volley goalwards which the Salford goalkeeper was equal to.
There was then a free-flowing move as Levi Gallimore passed the ball to Virgo, who then played Wilson in down the right. The ball almost reached Jessop in the area but the linesman’s flag was raised.
Kemp then attacked down the right and passed to Wilson, also on that side. His cross found Levi Gallimore, who sent a header over the crossbar.
Salford threatened again just before the break, but Collins was quick out to stop the attack and the danger was cleared.
The final chance of the opening period came Jessop’s way, as he won a loose ball before striking a shot from distance which cleared the crossbar.
On 50 minutes, following a quick throw-in, Levi Gallimore sent a cross in but Wilson couldn’t quite connect and it went out for a goal-kick.
Just a minute later, there was god play by Wilson, who brought the ball under control and drove down the right, but his cross was saved by the goalkeeper. Then, Levi Gallimore was played through by a great ball but looped his effort wide.
The 55th minute saw a Salford counter-attack as one of their attackers was played in down the right, but Collins made an excellent save to tip away the danger.
The hosts attacked down the right on the hour mark and the ball was played to Wilson, whose shot was deflected wide. The corner reacheed Levi Gallimore on the left wing but his cross was blocked and reached the goalkeeper, who gathered.
Soon after, there was a left-wing free-kick for the Iron which saw a great delivery from Wilson, curling the ball into the six-yard box, but Barks just couldn’t quite connect and it went out for a goal-kick.
Virgo sent the ball just over the crossbar in the 65th minute, latching onto a throughball from central defence before clipping it over the goalkeeper and, only just, the goal too.
One of Salford’s substitutes was shown a red card in the 68th minute after he was adjudged to have kicked out.
With 14 minutes of normal time left, United pulled a goal back. Levi Gallimore, Jessop and Wilson probed down the right before the latter, from just inside the area, sent an effort into the corner of the net.
“He picked it up on the right, cut inside and finished with his left foot,” added Daws. “It was a really good finish and set up a nervy end to the game for Salford.”
There was a chance to level just two minutes after, as the Iron won a free-kick on the right side of the 18-yard box. Virgo met Silva’s delivery on the left side of the area but sent his header wide.
In the 80th minute, Scunthorpe had a goal ruled out for offside as Virgo converted into the back of the net after Levi Gallimore’s shot fell into his path. It came following an attack down the right, led by Wilson.
Three minutes later, after a free-kick just inside the area was passed to him, Shrimpton played a great pass to Jessop, but the frontman turned to fire over the crossbar from the edge of the 18-yard box.
The 84th minute saw an ambitious attempt by Barks, who fired wide from 35 yards.
The Iron pressed late on, but Silva and Barks saw shots from range blocked. Then Wilson did great to advance down the right-wing and sent in a cross which, only just, evaded the Iron attackers.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Collins saved well with his feet after a Salford attacker tricked and turned down the left before sending a shot in.
After, Virgo headed well into Levi Gallimore’s path after Barks’ ball forward and the ball eventually went out for a corner on the left. Silva’s delivery found Jessop, but he sent his effort over the bar. It proved the last chance of the game.
Next up for the Iron is a trip to Grimsby in the league on Saturday, August 31st.
IRON: Collins, Kemp (Wilkinson, 84), Baker, Shrimpton, Barks, Silva, Wilson, D Gallimore, L Gallimore, Jessop, Virgo.
IRON SUBS: Lewis, Parker.