Scunthorpe United stepped up their pre-season preparations with an impressive 2-1 victory over Championship side Rotherham United at Glanford Park.
After taking the lead through Kevin van Veen, the hosts were pegged back before the break. It looked as though 1-1 was how it would finish, until Josh Morris popped up with a late winner three minutes from time.The Iron were the first to register an effort on goal, when Hakeeb Adelakun set his sights from around 30 yards out. It was an effort which was well dealt with by Millers ‘keeper Lee Camp, who gathered the ball despite an awkward bounce in front of him.
It was then the turn of United shotstopper Joe Anyon to make a save of his own, as he got down well to palm Joe Mattock’s fierce near post drive over the crossbar for a corner.
A superb chance fell the way of Charlie Goode on 15 minutes. With the centre-back all alone in the penalty area, the ball dropped at his feet, but Rotherham’s man between the sticks, Camp, got out to save the attempt.
The deadlock was broken minutes later though, by van Veen. After Adelakun had initially sent a shot towards goal, the ball fell almost perfectly for the striker, who span and slotted past Camp into the far corner.
Alan Stubbs’ side were almost back on level terms instantly through Jerry Yates, when he cut in from the left flank, before curling a right footed effort towards the top right corner of the goal - which drifted fractionally past the outside of the post.
The visitors’ frustration would be short-lived however, with Yates turning provider for Richard Wood, who had a tap in at the back post, following his teammates’ effort beforehand.
There was a blow midway through the half for the Iron, as goalscorer van Veen had to be replaced by Tom Hopper, after the Dutchman was involved in an aerial collision.
Five minutes before the interval, Duane Holmes went on a slaloming run into the Rotherham half and created space for a shot. The former Huddersfield Town man couldn’t trouble Camp though, as he pulled his strike wide of the target.
Holmes’ effort would be the last of the opening period, with both sides going in level at the break.
United were quick out of the blocks at the start of the second half, and they created the first chance, as Hopper burst down the left touchline, before squaring for Kyle Wootton. The 19-year-old looked to have found the back of the net, but he could only manage to poke the ball inches past the post.
Rotherham went straight up the field and created a chance of their own shortly after, and would have taken the lead if not for some superb goalkeeping from Anyon, who denied Danny Ward from point blank range.
The home side thought they’d got back ahead 20 minutes into the second half, when Hopper powered a header home from close range. It wasn’t to be though, as the striker was adjudged to have fouled Millers ‘keeper Camp.
Half chances continued to fall the way of United, but they were almost punished ten minutes from time by Ward, whose burst through the middle nearly contributed to that all important third strike. Anyon had other ideas however, and stuck out a strong arm to foil the forward, as he bore down on goal.
Anyon’s stop would prove crucial, as with just under five minutes to play, substitute Morris put the Iron ahead once more. The opportunity came about because of some quick thinking from skipper Stephen Dawson, whose quickly taken free kick allowed Adelakun to slip Morris in and, after receiving the ball on the left of the penalty area, the 24-year-old hit an unstoppable strike past Camp.
This would turn out to be the winner, with United holding out for an impressive win over the Championship side.
TEAM LINE-UPS
Scunthorpe United: Anyon, Wiseman, Laird, Wallace (Clarke 56), van Veen (Hopper 27) , Bishop (Sutton 82), Adelakun, Holmes (Morris 70), Goode, Ness (Dawson 75), Wootton (Williams 70).
Substitutes not used: Daniels, King, Townsend, Dyche.
Rotherham United: Camp, Kelly, Mattock, Forster-Caskey (Bailey-King 77), Broadfoot, Wood, Forde, Frecklington, Ward, Yates, Vaulks (Smallwood 78).
Substitutes not used: Price, Thorpe, Muskwe, Dawson.
Attendance: 1,466.
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