A free-kick from Josh Morris gave the Iron that all important goal to win them the three points against Bury.
The midfielder won the set-piece centrally at the edge of the box. He stood over the ball and put all of the Iron fans’ nerves to rest as he curled the ball into the top left corner of the goal.
Scunthorpe, who were unchanged from the 4-0 win a week earlier at Plymouth Argyle, attacked first through Hakeeb Adelakun, who weaved his way to the 18-yard-box and passed it across the line to Morris. However, the winger who had been in fine form ahead of the game, was denied by a Bury deflection.
Bury's Harry Bunn later tried an effort in the 13th minute from about 20-yards out. He attempted to curl the ball into the top-right corner but instead sent it into the stand.
The first real chance of the game for the Iron came in the 18th minute as Conor Townsend sent an out-swinging ball into the back post. Paddy Madden was the man at the end of it but he just couldn’t get enough on it to send it into the back of the net.
Only a minute later, a chance came Bury’s way as the ball rebounded in the box to the feet of Jermaine Beckford. The Shakers’ summer signing fired it at goal but could only find the post.
Morris proved too much for the Bury defence on a number of occasions. In the 24th minute he drove a tantalising ball across the box. Paddy Madden couldn’t quite stretch to it though and, as it fell to Levi Sutton just past the back post, the full-back sent it just wide into the sidenetting.
Adelakun continued to look threatening as the winger played a one-two with Sutton on the right and made a great run to put himself through on goal. However, as he struck the ball the angle continued to get narrower and he fired it at the ‘keeper.
With only seven minutes of the opening half to go, the Iron had an effort from six yards out as the ball connected with Murray Wallace’s head. He was unlucky as he couldn’t head it goalwards.
Bury had some good link-ups of their own as Ryan Lowe and Bunn exchanged passes on the edge of the Iron box until Lowe could perfectly lay-off a shot for Bunn. However, the midfielder couldn’t get it on target as it curled wide.
The Bury man looked to be the home side’s biggest threat as he had another effort deflected away from goal with a minute on the clock. However, it wasn’t to be as the first half ended goalless.
Beckford came out into the second half hot as he received the ball in the box, shifted his body and generated a strike with power towards goal. He sent it wide but reminded the Iron of what they were up against.
Speaking of reminders, Bunn picked up just where he left off as he proved tricky on the left flank and found his way into the box. However, they couldn’t find that final touch.
A moment of magic came in the 50th minute from a set piece. It was on the left flank, five yards from the edge of the box. Morris peeled away from it and Adelakun curled it beautifully into the top right corner. The winger celebrated with some acrobatics and the referee gave the goal. However, after discussing it with his linesman, the goal was disallowed.
Bury seemed revitalised after this and, in the 56th minute, Rohan Ince attempted what would have been an impressive goal of his own. He was found in a slight bit of space 20 yards out and drove a shot at goal but it was deflected by the Iron defence.
The effort was almost replicated only five minutes later by Josh Laurent. The tricky winger got into the same position but managed to get his shot to the goal. However, it only got as far as Matt Gilks who comfortably dropped for the ball.
The two centre-halves gave Bury no time on the ball and were quick to react to any loose balls. In the 67th minute Bunn chased the ball into the box but was beaten by a determined Rory McArdle who slid in and won the ball.
70 minutes in, substitute Lee Novak looked to make himself a hero on his debut as he connected with a header inside the box. He hit it towards goal and the Iron supporters erupted. However, it was headed into the side netting.
It went quiet for ten minutes until the Iron provided a counter attack. Morris took the ball from his own half all the way to 30 yards from goal. He played substitute Duane Holmes through who was able to turn and play fellow sub Kevin van Veen in on goal.
The Dutchman chose to strike but couldn’t quite lift it enough into the air to beat Joe Murphy.
However, the Iron’s frustrations were irrelevant as, with five minutes left on the clock, Morris went down centrally at the edge of the box. He was always going to be the man for the job and he didn’t disappoint.
The home side kept the Iron defence busy in the remaining minutes but couldn’t seem to break down what had been a confident, intelligent defensive performance.
TEAM LINE-UPS
Bury: Murphy, Leigh, Beckford (c), Williams, Edwards, Laurent, Whitmore, Cameron (Aldred, 77’), Ince, Bunn, Lowe (Maguire, 63’).
Unused substitutes: Fasan, Skarz, Dai, Cooney, Smith.
Scunthorpe United: Gilks, Townsend, Wallace, Ojo, Madden (van Veen, 78’), Morris, Bishop, Hopper (Novak, 70), Adelakun (Holmes, 70), Sutton, McArdle.
Unused substitutes: Crofts, Mantom, Burgess, Watson.
Attendance: 4,055 (668 away).