Report: Boston United 4-2 Iron

John McAtee was on target twice but the Iron exited the Lincolnshire Senior Cup at the first round stage, losing 4-2 at Boston United on Wednesday night.

The hosts took the lead on five minutes with the first attack of the game, as Ashley Jackson received the ball on the right flank and crossed to Tom Clare, who headed in from close range.

There was an early Scunthorpe substitution soon after as Omar Sanyang was replaced by Mason O’Malley due to injury.

The home side added a second goal with 10 minutes on the clock as Jay Rollins was played in down the left flank and unleashed a powerful strike that nestled in Adam Kelsey’s top right stanchion.

On 22 minutes, Jordan Hallam won the ball back for the Iron 50 yards from goal, driving towards the area before checking back. George Hornshaw played the ball into the area for Trialist A, but he couldn’t quite slide in on the cross to convert.

Three minutes later, Scunthorpe had a further chance as Kevin van Veen took a free-kick 25 yards from goal, from the left side of the box. He struck it hard and low, trying to catch former Iron youth goalkeeper Peter Crook out, but he saved by diving down to his right.

Finding their way back into the game, the Iron did halve the deficit with 35 minutes on the clock as McAtee struck from close range, firing past the Boston shotstopper after O’Malley cut inside to shoot and his attempt took a deflection into the attacker’s path.

In the ascendency, Scunthorpe had a chance to level a couple of minutes later as Trialist A sped down the left before cutting inside and unleashing a shot that cleared the crossbar.

Nevertheless, Boston scored with their next real chance as ex-Iron striker Jordan Thewlis lashed home from the right-side of the 18-yard box on 43 minutes.

The second-half began in an end-to-end manner, with Boston coming close through Thewlis, who curled an effort against the crossbar from the left side of the area.

Meanwhile, McAtee and van Veen linked up, but the final ball couldn’t be found, while Butroid was played in down the left but the ball was blocked away and took a deflection off the left-back for a Pilgrims goal kick.

Soon after, McAtee played in Hallam down the right side of the area. He quickly got a shot away but George Willis saved the attempt.

With 65 minutes gone, James Horsfield won a free-kick down the right, which Butroid took. He tried to find Jai Rowe with his delivery but the defender just couldn’t get on the end of it.

The Pilgrims soon added a fourth as Shaun Tuton went on a mazy run and then turned to play in George Green, who was in space, and slotted beyond the onrushing Kelsey.

There were a couple of Scunthorpe changes soon after as Hallam and van Veen were replaced by Tom Pugh and Harry Jessop. These were either side of a Tuton chance for Boston, as he curled an attempt wide from the edge of the area.

Rowe made a terrific block to deny Jonathan Wafula soon after, while Pugh sent a low effort wide for United from the right of the 18-yard box.

Scunthorpe rallied late on to try and get back into the match, with Butroid firing wide from distance as an opening presented itself in the closing stages.

McAtee then got his and the Iron’s second as he played the ball with composure with O’Malley on the right, eventually getting space for a shot, beating the goalkeeper at his near post with a low finish.

The Iron continued to press but the match ended 4-2, with the Pilgrims progressing to the next round.

BOSTON: Crook (Willis, 45), Middleton (Birch, 57), Jackson (Whittle, 71), Thanoj, Ainge (Robertson, 65), Shiels, Platt (Wafula, 71), Abbott (Green, 57), Clare (Tuton, 45), Thewlis, Rollins.

IRON: Kelsey, Horsfield, Butroid, Hornshaw, Cummings, Rowe, Sanyang (O’Malley, 7), McAtee, van Veen (Jessop, 73), Hallam (Pugh, 70), Trialist A.

IRON SUBS: Collins, Potts, Barks, Baker.

ATTENDANCE: 442 (30 away).