The 1-1 away draw at Northampton earlier this season was our first match with them for four-and-a-half years.
Niall Canavan scored a header but was cancelled out by a Clive Platt equaliser back in September.Up until 1997, the fixture against the Cobblers was a regular inclusion to the fixtures with 58 clashes being played between the sides so far.
A GOAL-FILLED ENCOUNTER...…
With the Iron marching towards the play-offs, the fixture at the Sixfields in April 2009 almost provided the stumbling blocks in a 3-3 draw.
The referee was the same as the one who would referee the play-off final, Michael Oliver, with him asserting himself with a good flowing performance.
Jason Crowe scored the first for the hosts, but Liam Trotter levelled on the stroke of half time. It was Grant McCann who got the Iron’s second from the spot before proceedings were levelled by Ikechi Anya on the hour mark.
The Iron didn’t make any changes in the game and took the lead again with 20 minutes remaining; Matt Sparrow credited with the goal, before Mark Hughes, a defender now of Morecambe, netting the equalising goal.
THE POINTS THAT GOT AWAY…
An open encounter at Glanford Park saw the Iron take a 3-1 lead into the break before extending it to 4-1 just after half time. A brace a piece from Ben May and Gary Hooper had sent Scunthorpe into a sure victory, with only Scott McGleish reducing the deficit in the 24th minute.
Despite this, it was the Cobblers who fought back, with Giles Coke and Danny Jackman bringing the scoreline to 4-3 on the hour mark. That left Jackman to rescue a point with five minutes left, after a fully incomprehensive display from the host’s backline.
THE BIG VICTORY…
With the Iron not yet knowing their results in the future, they did notch up an impressive 7-0 win over Northampton in October in 1993.
Matt Carmichael grabbed a hat-trick at Glanford Park with Ian Thompstone also getting on the scoresheet.
The half time scoreline was 4-0, with Matt Elliott, Mark Smith and Andy Toman also netting in the seven goal rout, which was the game immediately following a 5-0 win over the same side just seven months earlier.
ON THE WAY TO PROMOTION…
It may have been at the start of the season, but Iron fans were quietly optimistic about the season, especially after beating the Cobblers 2-0 at Glanford Park.
Andy Keogh got the first goal after 43 minutes, whilst Andy Crosby notched a penalty in the 73rd minute, showing the opposition how to do it after they hit the inside of the post with their penalty.
The reverse fixture in April threatened to derail their hopes, with Andy Kirk netting after four minutes. The win was completed after 21, however, with Paul Hayes and Richard Kell netting to reverse the scoreline.
OTHER MEMORABLE SCORELINES…
11/02/75 – Northampton Town 3-0 Scunthorpe United
25/04/80 – Scunthorpe United 3-0 Northampton Town
13/03/81 – Northampton Town 3-3 Scunthorpe United
06/11/82 – Scunthorpe United 5-1 Northampton Town
30-03-93 – Scunthorpe United 5-0 Northampton Town