Report: Iron XI 3-3 Sheffield Wednesday XI

An Iron XI drew 3-3 at home to a Sheffield Wednesday XI in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Tuesday afternoon.

The first incident of the game saw the referee play an advantage in the third minute as the visitors broke through, with Jonathan Flatt making a fine save. George Hornshaw then cleared for a corner.

Flatt was on hand to deal with the corner, but at the expense of another. United dealt with that threat before the visitors came forward again with a left-footed half-volley fired wide. 

United probed from this stage and looked to create openings, but it was again the Owls who had the next chance in the 15th minute. There was a smart stop from Flatt, as he flew through the air to thwart a looping effort from the left side of the area. He clawed the ball away from goal, with Lewis Butroid hooking clear.

Then, two minutes later, a Wednesday cross from the left, with the ball chested down towards the edge of the area. The left-footed effort from the Owls’ number 7 was sent high and wide of the target.

A Scunthorpe opportunity arrived in the 19th minute, when the visiting ‘keeper was forced into a save close to his near post as Yasin Ben El-Mhanni found space to drill in a cross from the right.

The visitors then took the lead from a free-kick in the 21st minute. The ball was whipped in from the right side of the area to the far post, with an Owls central defender powering a header into the net.

Three minutes later, there was a chance for a second for the visitors as a low cross from the right side flashed across the face of goal. Hornshaw and the attacker couldn’t connect as the ball bobbled out of play for a goal kick. 

Olomola came close in the 26th minute, receiving the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the area before spinning onto his right foot and forcing the ‘keeper to beat the effort away and back into play. 

The frontman levelled with half an hour gone. A massive amount of credit was due to Jordan Hallam for his work rate though. Jack Harrison chased a loose ball to feed Flatt. His long kick up field saw Hallam put pressure on the defence. He then edged the defender off the ball before hooking the ball into the area for Olomola, who controlled, found space and fired into the corner of the net.

There was a chance for the Iron to take the lead through Hornshaw on 33 minutes, who hit a first-time effort from the edge of the area which saw the ‘keeper scramble. The ball rolled along the side-netting.

On 38 minutes, Olomola came within a whisker of putting the Iron ahead as he controlled a pass into him on the edge of the box before spinning onto his left foot and drilling across goal and wide.

Two minutes before half-time, Hornshaw and Ben El-Mhanni exchanged down the right, allowing the latter to cut inside, push onto his left foot and curl an effort wide of the target.

There was then one final first-half chance for the visitors, as the ball was played into the Sheffield Wednesday number 10, with the forward turning and placing an effort wide of the target from 25 yards.

The first Scunthorpe chance of the second period arrived in the 56th minute, and it was superb play from the Iron as the team played from front-to-back. Flatt rolled to Harrison and, following a neat interchange on the right involving Hornshaw, Hallam drove through and was cynically hacked down on the edge of the area. Clayton Lewis took the resultant free-kick, curling over the wall but just wide of the right post.

In the 62nd minute, Kevin van Veen put the Iron ahead. After Lund hooked clear, the ball found Olomola on the left who got a ricochet on a block before driving forward. His low cross looped into the air, with the Owls defence looking to clear. The ball came to van Veen, who controlled and slotted home.

There was parity restored by the visitors following a corner from the right. The ball found the defender who cannoned an effort off the bar, with the ball going over the line after bouncing off the bar for a second time.

67 minutes in, Olomola was wiped out on halfway, with the referee playing a good advantage for Tom Pearce to drive on with the ball. He fizzed a cross across goal, but it skipped just beyond Hallam running in. 

A minute later, Scunthorpe won a free-kick on the edge of the box as van Veen won back possession, drove past one and was clipped by the next player. The Dutchman took the kick himself, curling the effort over the wall and forcing the ‘keeper to dive to his left and beat the ball away. 

On 70 minutes, van Veen had time and space on the ball to work an opening from 25-yards. His bobbling effort was then saved by the ‘keeper. 

The Iron retook the lead in the 71st minute and it was a goal well deserved from Hallam. He picked up the ball on the right side before drilling a shot low across goal and into the net. 

There was a Scunthorpe change a minute later, as goalkeeper Adam Kelsey came on for Flatt.

With 76 minutes on the clock, there was a superb move from the Iron. Kelsey kicked long, van Veen and Matthew Lund exchange headers before Lewis played cross-field for Ben El-Mhanni. His cross was deep to van Veen, who played first time for Lewis on the edge of the area, but his controlled shot was well saved. 

On 81 minutes, Olomola seized on a loose ball inside the area, but fired his effort over the bar under pressure from the defender. 

There was a free-kick to the Iron just a minute later as Pearce got himself into an advanced position, cutting onto his right foot before being tripped. Ben El-Mhanni took the kick, curling over the ball and seeing his effort cannon back into play off the crossbar before the defence cleared for a corner.

Lewis’ corner was clawed clear by the ‘keeper with Harrison trying to flick goalwards. The ball sat up for Lund, but his effort was blocked and handball claims were dismissed. 

The Owls won a penalty with five minutes later, and parity was restored from the spot kick by the visiting number 7. Kelsey guessed correctly, but the precision in the kick saw it fly into the net.

There were two late Scunthorpe chances to retake the lead, as van Veen headed over the bar from Hallam’s right-winged cross. Then Ben El-Mhanni cut onto his left foot and curled a brilliant effort goalwards from 25 yards which clipped the outside of the post. 

IRON: Flatt (Kelsey, 72), Lund, van Veen, Lewis, Pearce, Ben El-Mhanni, Olomola, Hornshaw, Hallam, Butroid, Harrison.