Scunthorpe United’s Under-18s progressed through to the second round of the FA Youth Cup, where they’ll host Blackpool on a date yet to be confirmed, after defeating AFC Telford United 6-1 on Wednesday evening.
The Iron instigated an early attack on two minutes with Tom Pugh blocking an attempted forward pass. Levi Gallimore found Louis Collins, who spread play to the left, but Cameron Morfoot’s cross was headed away.
The visitors won the first corner of the game two minutes later. The first delivery from Liam Walton was punched clear by Sam Riches and the second was turned behind for another corner to AFC Telford United.
Liam Walton broke the deadlock from the second corner in the fifth minute. He curled his cross in towards the near post and it snuck in despite the best efforts of Riches to get the ball clear.
The Iron responded and won a corner of their own which was floated towards the edge of the box. The ball was then teed up to Pugh, who controlled and shot, forcing John Acton into a comfortable save.
There was then, on 10 minutes, a good opening for the Iron to get back into the game as Harrison won the ball back on halfway. Raynner Silva turned the ball into Pugh, who found Levi Gallimore. He advanced forward but saw his 20-yard effort dragged wide.
In the 14th minute, an Iron corner was played low into the area towards Collins. His effort was blocked close to goal, with one player going down in the box. There was no foul given though, as the visitors managed to clear.
With 20 minutes on the clock, Gallimore did well to charge down a clearance, which fell for Collins nicely inside the area. His first touch was brilliant and he set the ball across the area for Silva, who picked it up and saw his shot from 18 yards take a deflection and drop kindly for Acton to gather.
Four minutes later, there was almost an equaliser for the Iron following a short corner which involved Silva. His deep cross was headed back across goal with Collins lurking. A scramble inside the six-yard box ensued, but somehow Acton came out with the ball.
In the 29th minute, Gallimore tried to find Collins inside the area but the ball was intercepted. He immediately charged forward, won the ball back inside the area and shot, with Acton saving once more.
Scunthorpe eventually levelled on 32 minutes, as Louis Collins latched onto a magnificent throughball, breaking the offside trap and slotted across goal and into the corner of the net.
They then went ahead two minutes later, as Okafor got the goal after being played through on the left side of the area. He beat the onrushing goalkeeper to slot the ball beyond him and into the net.
There was one final chance in the half as United’s Okafor picked up the ball on the edge of the area, turned and shot, but his effort bobbled towards Acton who saved comfortably.
In the 46th minute, there was almost an Iron third seconds after the restart as Collins broke the offside trap. Acton stayed on his line on this occasion and made a fine stop from his low effort.
Three minutes later. Jessop seized on a loose touch inside the penalty area and opened his body to shoot with his left foot. It was central and the ‘keeper made a comfortable save.
In the 51st minute, Collins fired wide for the Iron from 20 yards after good work on the right. The effort had the ‘keeper beaten, but the effort flashed wide of Acton’s right-hand post.
Five minutes later, Gallimore picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and fired an effort across goal and into the corner of the net with a brilliant finish.
Substitute Rifat Ata almost made an immediate impact for the away side, but he fired over the crossbar after being fed through down the right.
Iron substitute Cameron Wilson immediately got involved on 66 minutes, as he kept the ball in play on the right channel and found Collins. He turned his man and charged across the box before seeing his left-footed shot saved by Acton.
In the 71st minute, there was almost a fourth for the Iron as Collins broke the offside trap following a Okafor flick on. He drove into the area and slotted across goal, but Acton made a fine save.
Five minutes later, there was another fine save from Acton as Collins broke the offside trap from Okafor’s flick. Collins met the strike on the half volley but Acton again denied him.
With 80 minutes on the clock, Silva got in on the scoring act as Collins controlled superbly from Sam Riches’ goal kick. Silva picked up the ball in the area, turned onto his right foot and fired home.
Then two minutes later, Gallimore broke through the back line and, with the aid of a deflection, fired home United’s fifth of the evening.
However, the goal of the night was saved for the 88th minute when the ball was cut back to the 30-yard mark where it was dummied by substitute Finley Shrimpton for Pugh, who took one touch before firing into the top corner of the net.
In the closing stages, Shrimpton almost got in on the act as the referee played a good advantage on half-way, Okafor saw his effort blocked before Shrimpton had his shot saved by Acton.
IRON: Riches, Baker, Morfoot, Pugh (c), Barks (Train, 81), Harrison, L. Gallimore (Shrimpton, 83), Jessop (Wilson, 65), Okafor, L. Collins, Silva.
IRON SUBS: T. Collins, Wilkinson.
TELFORD: Acton, Kenny, Griffiths (Taylor, 75), Wood (Berquez, 87), Farnsworth (Ata, 60), Walker, Nicholson (C), Walton, Downing, Pratt, Hughes.
TELFORD SUBS: Byrne, Scott.
ATTENDANCE: 152.