Report: Iron XI 5-0 Select XI

A Scunthorpe United XI were 5-0 victors in a behind-closed-doors friendly against a Select XI at Glanford Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Two minutes in, a speculative effort from long range from the opposition was comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Jonathan Flatt.

With five minutes on the clock, good work from Tom Pugh and Jordan Hallam down the Iron right saw successfully defend a forward move from the opposition before shielding the ball out of play for a goal kick.

A minute later, Trialist A and Olufela Olomola combined to work an opening to Clayton Lewis on the left. His cross was deep with Pugh lurking. In the next phase of play, the Iron then won a corner.

On seven minutes, the Iron took the lead from that corner. Yasin Ben El-Mhanni floated in the cross. Trialist A headed towards goal, and Olomola then chested down and fired home with his left foot from close range.

Just a minute after that, Olomola doubled his tally and the Iron’s lead as he drove forward after the hosts won the ball back from kick-off, with a brilliant right-footed effort from the edge of the box finding the top corner of the net.

Hallam fed Trialist A down the right in the 14th minute before he saw his low drive blocked. From the corner, United played it short before the ball was worked back to El-Mhanni. He fired wide though.

The visiting side got space on the left four minutes later before the striker fired the ball high and wide of the target from inside the area.

On 22 minutes, Trialist A was fed the ball from Raynner Silva from the left. He took one touch before having a go from the edge of the area, firing his effort just over. Three minutes later, he had a deflected shot from long range saved by the goalkeeper.

Four minutes later, there was a third goal for the Iron and a great strike from Clayton Lewis. He opened onto his left foot from range before placing towards the bottom right corner.

Just moments after, there was almost an immediate fourth for the Iron as a long range effort was well saved, but spilled, by the ‘keeper. Trialist A came in for the rebound and collided with the defender before the ‘keeper gathered.

At the half hour mark, Olomola drove in off the right onto his left foot before drawing the visiting ‘keeper into a smart save to his left.

Flatt then made a brilliant double save as he parried a long-range effort and thwarted a rebound on the right side of the area. He then raced back into position to beat away an 18-yard strike after the ball was played square.

With 33 minutes gone, there was a chance for Olomola’s hat-trick following a driving run from Ben El-Mhanni. Olomola created space on his left-foot with his 20-yard effort forcing the ‘keeper into a fine save.

Trialist A added an exquisite fourth for the Iron on 38 minutes. After neat build-up play, Hallam played the killer ball through, with the finish seeing him dink the ball into the net over the advancing ‘keeper.

In the 40th minute, Olomola sealed his hat-trick. Hallam found the forward in space on the left. He cut onto his left foot before drilling a left-footed effort across goal and into the far corner of the net.

To close the half, there was good defending from academy defender Charlie Barks as he charged back in a one-on-one race with the visiting forward before getting in front and clearing.

On 47 minutes, there was some early defending from the Iron inside their own penalty area. Silva did well initially before the ball was hooked clear between Barks and Jack Harrison. Flatt was out moments later to gather as the forward went through.

In the 51st minute, there was a corner to the Iron after more good work from Pugh on the right hand side. He saw his cross blocked. The cross was cleared to the edge of the box for George Hornshaw, who saw his left-footed drive blocked.

Two minutes later, there was good play from the Iron as Hallam played the ball wide for Lewis. He held up the ball while Silva overlapped with the academy player, playing a brilliant ball into the area for Trialist A, who volleyed wide.

On the hour mark, there was a smart stop from Flatt, diving low to his right from a free-kick to the visitors. The strike was bent over the wall towards the corner. Shortly after, Olomola’s strike was saved by the goalkeeper before rebounding to Hallam, who also saw his effort saved.

On 76 minutes, there was a comfortable save from substitute goalkeeper Adam Kelsey as he watched a low free-kick all the way after the 30-yard strike was bent around the wall.

A minute after, Olomola forced the visiting goalkeeper into another save. Hallam fed him before he opened up from 20-yards and curled an effort which was well-held.

In the 81st minute, the visitors had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside. The ball was played through with the forward two yards offside before playing the ball square for an easy finish.

There was then super goalkeeping from Kelsey in the 84th minute as the visitors went clean through, but the first-year professional stood tall, thwarting the effort and claiming the resultant cross.

The final save of the game came with two minutes left, as Kelsey made another fine save, The visiting striker worked his way into space on the left of the area before shooting, but Kelsey made a superb stop to maintain the clean sheet.

Iron team: Flatt (Kelsey, 68), Lewis, Ben El-Mhanni, Olomola, Hornshaw, Hallam, Pugh (Okafor, 85), Trialist A, Harrison, Silva (L Collins, 72), Barks.