Scunthorpe United FC

Scunthorpe were held to a 1-1 draw by Worcester City on Sunday afternoon.

The Conference North side have earned themselves a replay on their turf after the game finished one apiece, with Daniel Nti’s effort cancelling out Paddy Madden’s first-half goal.

It was Madden who had the first effort on target, meeting a Hawkridge free-kick only to nod the ball straight into the arms of Vaughn, the visitors’ shot-stopper. The striker found himself in space again moments later, but was unable to get a clean connection on his attempted bicycle kick.

In a feisty opening ten minutes it was Scunthorpe who were growing into the game with McSheffrey forcing a fine save out of Vaughn. The midfielder’s volley came from a tight angle after being teed up by Kee, but the opposition’s keeper was equal to the strike.

Worcester’s first attempt at goal came on the fifteen minute mark as the skipper, Ellis Deeney, fired a shot tamely wide from 25 yards. City then had Hutchison to thank for a last-ditch tackle to deny Taylor having a chance one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Hawkridge continued to look a threat from right back; a relatively new position for the former Gainsborough Trinity man. He almost found Kee with a low whipped cross but Weir was able to bravely head the ball away from danger.

With twenty minutes left of the first period, Wayne Thomas almost made headlines with an ambitious strike from range, but Slocombe was able to save comfortably, despite the sun beaming into this eyes.
Geddes, the FA Cup hero from previous rounds, curled in a dangerous delivery from a corner and it took some quality defending from striker Paddy Madden to thwart the away side. An incisive Iron counter-attack followed, resulting in City defender Weir bringing down Hawkridge on the edge of the area, earning himself a booking in the process.

The resulting free-kick proved costly for City, with Llera delicately whipping the ball over the wall. Vaughn did well to tip the effort onto the crossbar following a slight deflection but Madden was quickest to react, tapping the ball past the helpless shot-stopper. The claret and blue had took the lead with less than ten minutes until the break.

The goal settled Scunthorpe, who were able to keep possession more comfortably after breaking the deadlock and it was not long before another chance was created. Substitute Myrie-Williams, who came on for the injured McSheffrey, played Taylor through on the left flank, but the striker could do nothing but smash his shot straight at Vaughn from an acute angle.

Worcester equalised less than a minute after the break, with Daniel Nti smashing the ball into the roof of the net after Scunthorpe failed to clear their lines following a scramble in the penalty area.

This lifted the Conference North side, and they could have gone ahead had it not been for Symons slicing his effort high and wide of the goal following a corner. Worcester continued to press but the Iron defence dealt well with any threat in and around the penalty area.

A flowing move from Scunthorpe presented Billy Kee with a golden opportunity in front of goal. Adelakun brought a fantastic save from Vaughn, but the ball fell to the former Burton Albion striker, who shot wide from fifteen yards out.

Madden almost doubled his goal tally for the afternoon after being put through by McAllister. The striker was forced out wide inside the area but was still able to shoot at goal, forcing a diving save from Vaughn.
Scunthorpe pushed for a winner as Worcester tired but could not find the net, meaning both sides remain in Monday’s FA Cup Third Round draw but the tie will have to be decided by a replay.

TEAM LINE-UPS:
Scunthorpe United: Slocombe, McAllister, Madden, Bishop, Hawkridge, Taylor, Kee (Sparrow, 69), McSheffrey (Myrie-Williams, 37) (Adelakun, 45), M.Williams, Llera, Davey.

Worcester City: Vaughn, Williams, Weir, Hutchison, Thomas, Gater (Jackman, 73), Nti, Deeney, Symons (Wright, 69), Geddes, Murphy (Dunkley 79).

Attendance: 5,606 (2,026 away).