Still searching for their first win since the opening day of the season, the Iron first battled it out in the Football League Trophy against Sheffield United.
A resilient home display from Scunthorpe took the game directly to penalties after 90 minutes, but it was the Blades who would progress – Scunthorpe losing their second penalty shootout of the season.Back to league action four days later, it looked like that elusive win was on the cards against Northampton Town. A header from Niall Canavan looked to set them on their way to three points, but Clive Platt pegged them back soon after.
Wins then became like London buses with two 1-0 victories following on consecutive weekend’s. The first came against Southend United at Roots Hall (Chris Iwelumo heading from close range after a mistake from the left back), before a replication of the solitary goal scoreline eight days later against Plymouth Argyle at Glanford Park – Etienne Esajas with the goal.
Game of the month:
Burton Albion 2-2 Scunthorpe United
The Iron rounded off the month by remaining unbeaten in the league in September, despite having to come from behind for the first time in the campaign on their first-ever visit to the Pirelli Stadium.
Burton Albion were the opponents, who stunned United by scoring the first goal (and the first time that Scunthorpe had conceded in the first half so far in the campaign) with Brewers’ star Billy Kee putting the hosts ahead after 37 minutes from a yard out. That goal came 16 minutes after Scunthorpe were forced to withdraw Eddie Nolan after pulling his hamstring after beautifully controlling a cross-field ball. Cliff Byrne was his replacement.
Loan man Jimmy Spencer was introduced for the start of the second half in place of Etienne Esajas, with it taking little more than three minutes for the striker to make an impact. He fended off Shane Cansdell-Sherriff on the right, allowing Hawkridge to float in a ball, which was delicately flicked home by Deon Burton for his first goal for the club.
The turnaround was completed four minutes later when another brilliant delivery – this time Dawson from a corner – was met by Niall Canavan for his second in the month. United shared the spoils though, with Robbie Weir equalising ten minutes later.
Goal of the Month:
The contenders for the Iron’s goal of the month in the second month of the season were vastly headers, with four out of the five goals coming via the head of a man wearing claret and blue.
With Canavan claiming half of those headed goals, it was he who took the accolade as voted for by the fans. His opener against Northampton Town at Sixfield’s came directly from a corner, with Terry Hawkridge’s inswinging curler placed inch perfect for the centre half; who came through United’s academy.
Meeting the ball from eight yards out, he looped a header into the top right hand corner, leaving Matt Duke with no chance and sending the visiting support behind the goal into hysterics.