The Iron’s Under-18s side won 3-2 away at Doncaster Rovers in the Youth Alliance League on Saturday, in their last game before the Christmas period, with Joey Dawson and Harry Jessop (two) on target.
Speaking after the game, academy manager Tony Daws said: “It’s been a week of three really tough games for the youth team, and today our players really turned up and showed how good they can be.
“We have come away from home to the league leaders and put in an excellent team performance, and we felt that we fully deserved to win against a very good Doncaster team. Well done to all the squad.”
Right at the start, Harry Baker did just enough at the back post, to force the Rovers number nine to miss the target, and the Iron cleared.
The first Scunthorpe chance came in the 18th minute when, after a neat one-two between Levi Gallimore and Raynner Silva, the latter rolled his man before firing high and wide of the upright.
On 25 minutes, Finley Shrimpton’s corner from the right was played short to Baker, and the Iron full-back’s deep cross was gathered by the Rovers ‘keeper.
Moments later, Baker tried again and this time it was almost perfect for Jessop, who’s glancing header was well saved. The resulting corner was diverted over the bar at the far post.
With 34 minutes gone, after an Oliver Lobley throw-in from the left, Shrimpton cut inside and fired a low effort goalwards, but the home ‘keeper gathered.
Then, at the other end, Shrimpton did well with a defensive header, following a dangerous free kick from the right wing.
Scunthorpe went ahead with 37 minutes on the clock, aftergreat link-up play between Levi Gallimore and Baker. The former squared to Dawson, who fired past the hosts’ ‘keeper inside the box.
Three minutes later, at the other end, Tom Collins was forced into a great save. A Rovers forward broke through on goal, but the Iron shot-stopper stood tall to save, and the resulting corner was defended and cleared.
Then, after a goal-saving block by Levi Gallimore, Jessop came close to doubling the Iron’s lead at the other end.
The Iron had the first sight of goal following the restart, as Jessop laid off to Silva on the edge of the area, but the latter’s strike flew over the bar.
With 51 minutes gone, Aidan Train did well with a sliding block, after a Rovers forward was bearing down on goal. Moments later, Shrimpton had a chance to extend the Iron’s lead, but the home ‘keeper got down well to save.
The Iron went two up on 56 minutes as Jessop got the better of his man down the left again, before driving into the area and firing into the bottom corner.
In the 62nd minute, a deflected cross reached the back post of Collins’ goal, but Levi Gallimore did just enough to divert the ball out of touch of the arriving Rovers full-back.
The ball almost broke to Jessop one-on-one after a Shrimpton ball wasn’t dealt with, but the ‘keeper just got his toe in before the striker could convert.
The 72nd minute saw the hosts carve out their first real chance of the half, as a cross from the left was headed over the bar.
With 10 minutes left, the hosts bundled home after Collins looked to be impeded, but nothing was given.
On 84 minutes, Jessop and Dawson combined brilliantly to make it three, before the former’s low guided finish found the bottom corner.
The hosts grabbed a late goal after a corner from the left, but United held out for all three points.
IRON: Collins, Baker, Lobley, Silva (Kemp, 85), Barks, Train, L Gallimore (Wilkinson, 90), Shrimpton (D Gallimore, 78), Jessop, Dawson, Chadli (Wilson, 85).
SUBS NOT USED: Balme.