Report: Peterborough United 2-2 Iron

The Iron drew 2-2 at the ABAX Stadium against Peterborough United on Tuesday evening.

Peterborough took the lead in the opening two minutes through Marcus Maddison, but a powerful hit by Ivan Toney in the 34th minute drew the two sides level.

However, seconds before the half-time whistle, Junior Morias scored to regain the advantage for the Posh.

The Iron grabbed another equaliser 60 minutes into the game as Ryan Yates’ close strike went off the post and in.

Manager Graham Alexander made four changes to his starting line-up for the game, which included a first Iron start for goalscorer Yates.

Peterborough took the lead inside the first two minutes. Smart play on the edge of the box allowed Maddison to sweep the ball with his left foot, hitting the inside of the right post before bouncing into the goal.

It could have been 2-0 four minutes later, but Matt Gilks got down low to his left to push out a Morias effort from outside of the area.

There could have been a relatively quick response from the Iron in the ninth minute. Hakeeb Adelakun and Josh Morris combined to set Conor Townsend free on the left-wing, crossing the ball into the box, but Toney’s header was clutched by Jonathan Bond.

Maddison looked a threat going forward and could have had his second goal of the night if it wasn’t for a superb save from Gilks, who parried the low, powerful effort wide of the target. 

Lee Novak came close to grabbing an equaliser for United in the 19^th minute. Adelakun played a clever low cross towards the six-yard box, with the striker poking the ball into the side netting.

Shortly after, Toney also flashed an effort into the side netting, after striking the ball first time.

Bond in the Posh goal then made a fantastic stop to deny a stinging Novak strike. His partner Toney played a neat first time pass back to the forward, and as the ball set up kindly, he sweetly struck it on the half-volley, but the goalkeeper was alert to dive and push the ball away.

The Iron fans thought their team had got an equaliser when Morris’ curling free-kick effort hit the side netting.

However, they were cheering moments later when Toney finished past Bond in the 34^th minute to make it 1-1. He was expertly played through by Novak and his powerful effort hit the back of the net.

A couple of minutes later and Toney was proving to be a handful upfront when his header bounced off of the crossbar. He then tried to volley home the rebound but a defender was there to block it.

In stoppage time for the first half, Morias netted to put the home side ahead once more. He met a cross from the left to stroke home from close range.

Immediately after the interval, Jack Marriott came close to extending Peterborough’s lead, but his shot was saved by Gilks and went out for a corner.

Then a smart dummy from Toney allowed the ball to run on to Townsend, and the left-back was unlucky with his effort as it just fizzed wide of the right post.

Toney also tried to replicate his free-kick goal at Fleetwood with two efforts from a similar position, however the first was deflected wide while the second was caught by Bond.

The Iron did manage to get their second equaliser of the night when Yates scored on his first start. Townsend got to the byline playing a low ball into the area, and the midfielder tucked the ball away from close range.

Peterborough nearly found a late winner when Andrew Hughes’ bounced off the crossbar, before Gilks made a phenomenal one handed save, diving to his right, to keep out Maddison.

That wasn’t the last action of the game as the Peterborough goalkeeper also made a solid late save to deny Cameron McGeehan from long distance.

TEAM LINE-UPS
Peterborough United: Bond, Shephard, Tafazolli, Baldwin (c) (Hughes, 74’), Maddison, Marriott, Ward (Lloyd, 75’), Morias, Doughty (Lopes, 84’), Taylor, Grant.
Unused substitutes: O’Malley, Forrester, Bogle, Cooper.

Scunthorpe United: Gilks, Townsend, Wallace, Ojo, Toney, Morris, Adelakun (Holmes, 75’), Novak (Hopper, 89’), Sutton (McGeehan, 86’), McArdle (c), Yates.
Unused substitutes: Watson, Bishop, Goode, Burgess.

Referee: Trevor Kettle.