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Match Previews

Under-18s preview: Burton Albion (H)

30 April 2021

The Iron's Under-18s play their final home game of the season, hosting their Burton Albion counterparts in the third of four Merit League fixtures (11am kick-off).

Please note, in line with the current EFL COVID-19 guidelines, no spectators are permitted at these games.

SCENE-SETTER

United commenced their Merit League fixtures with an away defeat to Notts County (2-0), fielding a youthful side on the day, but they backed up that with a battling 1-1 draw against Grimsby Town at home last weekend.

This is the side's third of a four-game extension to the season, but despite finishing as runners-up in the regular campaign, the team aren't guaranteed to end the league in second position, with the results from the Merit League being added to the existing standings. The top five are currently playing each other once more and the bottom five playing each other once more.

The league split can be likened to the one in the Scottish Premier League, with the league effectively in two halves for the final few weeks of the season.

The Iron came into the Merit League off the back of back-to-back wins over Huddersfield Town, prior to losing against the Magpies. They won 3-1 away from home with Joey Dawson (two) and Dan Gallimore netting, while Dawson added another brace in the return fixture, with Cam Wilson also netting in the 3-2 win.

Our opponents come into the game off the back of their own 1-1 draw against Grimsby Town. Prior to that, they exited the FA Youth Cup with a 9-0 away lost to Aston Villa, but prior to that they beat Rotherham United 3-0.

The two sides have already met twice times this season. The Brewers won 3-1 in the meeting at St George's Park, with Harry Lewis netting for United. Meanwhile, it was a 4-1 win for Scunthorpe in the reverse fixture, with Harrison Poulter and Joey Dawson both getting braces.

TEAM NEWS

A number of second-year scholars returned to the side last time out to strengthen the team against the Mariners.

Cameron Wilson came off the bench after struggling with an ankle problem in the build-up to the game, while elsewhere the side was virtually back to full strength.

Harry Baker remains out with a knee injury, Patrick Virgo continues to miss out with a hamstring problem while it is expected the Iron will continue to go with their younger players coming through. Alex Wilkinson, who had made a comeback in recent weeks, was missing again last time out.

LAST TIME OUT (D1-1 v Grimsby Town - Youth Alliance Merit League)

IRON: Crosher, Moore, Lewis, Franklin (Pike, 84), Kemp, Lobley, Abraham (Wilson, 55), Moore-Billam, Strouther (Trialist A, 64), Poulter, Gallimore.

IRON UNUSED SUBS: Balme.

LATEST RESULTS

Huddersfield Town 3-0 Bradford City
Mansfield Town 2-0 Lincoln City

ELSEWHERE IN THE MERIT LEAGUE

Saturday
Doncaster Rovers v Mansfield Town (11am)
Grimsby Town v Rotherham United (11am)
Lincoln City v Huddersfield Town (11am)

LEAGUE TABLE

Match Reports

Report: Iron U18s 4-1 Burton Albion U18s

4 May 2021

The Iron's Under-18s secured their place as the Youth Alliance North East Conference runners-up with a resounding 4-1 victory over their Burton Albion counterparts on Saturday at the Sands Venue Stadium.

The result, coupled with Grimsby Town's 3-0 home defeat against Rotherham United means Scunthorpe can no longer be caught and will finish second in the division after the Merit League extension of four games.

Oliver Lobley got a brace after twice peeling away at the back post, while Cameron Wilson celebrated being offered a professional contract last week with a penalty and Harrison Poulter also netted in the match. The other second-year scholar to be offered a deal last week, Dan Gallimore, skippered the side, with only he and Wilson featuring following the decisions being made on the eight scholars' futures.

Professional Phase Development Coach Steve Thornber said: "It was a really pleasing performance. We were playing on the first team pitch as well, which was a good experience for the lads, and it probably brought the best out of them.

"We played some really good football against quite a strong Burton Albion side who brought seven of their second-year lads to play the game.

"In the second-half, we didn't score the goals we deserved, but we played some really good football. We had numerous opportunities and, if we'd taken them, we could have quite easily scored 10. It was a good defensive display as well, so a really pleasing final home game of the season for us."

The Iron got off to the perfect start and lead after just five minutes. Lobley ghosted in at the far post to volley home from a Harry Lewis free-kick whipped in from the left side.

A minute later, it could have been 2-0 when Lewis broke through on goal, but he saw his effort go over the crossbar.

On 12 minutes, United showed good interplay through the thirds of the pitch before Ben Franklin - who scored the equaliser against Grimsby Town last week - saw space on the edge of the box for a shot, with the latest effort also clearing the Brewers goalkeeper's crossbar.

Harvey Cribb had the next opportunity on 15 minutes as he was played through by Jack Moore-Billam but again the effort didn't hit the target, with the effort going wide of the post.

Burton came into the game shortly after, with Jake Balme called into action for the first time to keep Scunthorpe ahead with a smart save with his feet before he punched a dangerous cross clear on 22 minutes, but only as far as an away player, who headed the rebound just wide of the post.

United doubled their advantage on 26 minutes through a short corner routine which left the Iron two-v-one. Lewis crossed into the area, again to the far post, where Lobley again connected, this time heading into the roof of the net.

The side were pressing for more goals in the first half, with Franklin firing over from 25-yards, while Balme was again required to make another save with his feet to keep the score at 2-0.

On 44 minutes, Scunthorpe extended their lead going into the interval as Wilson surged forward before being brought down in the penalty area. He dusted himself down to step up and convert the spot kick to make the half-time score 3-0.

Into the second period, on 58 minutes, Burton counter-attacked and pulled a goal back before, seven minutes later, Balme was called into action to make a fine save to prevent the away side reducing the deficit to just one goal.

On 67 minutes, Harrison Poulter sent a shot wide of the target following a two-on-one situation, while three minutes later it was Lewis who sent the latest effort off-target after good work from Moore-Billam who cut the ball back from the channel.

On 72 minutes, Moore-Billam went for goal himself, but saw the Brewers' shot stopper in fine form as he produced a good save to prevent the score becoming 4-1.

With 15 minutes to go, Lewis picked out a diagonal pass to Cribb, but the ball went wide of the mark.

On 78 minutes, the Iron got their fourth goal which they'd richly deserved. A great passing sequence through the thirds ended up with Poulter, who used his composure to put the ball into the net.

United continued to attack at will and could have made it 5-1 just a minute later when Lewis shot wide. His luck in front of goal continued on 82 minutes as he got on the end of a Jamie Moore pass, but this time the goalkeeper made a fine stop to thwart him.

With four minutes left, Poulter tracked back to win the ball back before sending a shot wide, while a minute later Trialist A cut the ball back for Lewis, who sent his latest, and final, shot over the bar.

The side complete their campaign with an away fixture at Rotherham United this Saturday at the New York Stadium, kick-off 11am.

IRON: Balme, Moore, Pike, Franklin (Trialist A, 84), Lobley, Gallimore, Cribb, Moore-Billam, Lewis, Poulter, Wilson.

IRON UNUSED SUBS: Sellars-Fleming, Abraham, Strouther, Elliott-Bell.