Report: Blackpool 1-3 Iron

Kevin van Veen and Abo Eisa (two) got the goals as United defeated League One side Blackpool 3-1 away in the Leasing.com Trophy second round on Wednesday night, and made it four wins on the spin in all competitions.

The Iron entered the game naming an unchanged side from the one that defeated Port Vale at the Sands Venue Stadium four days earlier.

The game started with a Blackpool attack as Calum Macdonald floated a cross in but it was headed behind by Rory McArdle. The subsequent set-piece was headed away by Harrison McGahey and the ball was sent back in, hitting James Perch, who had to receive treatment for a minute before continuing. Soon after, there was another stoppage in play as Blackpool’s Ollie Turton had to receive treatment.

United took the lead with the first chance of the match on 12 minutes as van Veen slotted home from inside the area. Matthew Lund stood the ball up for Lee Novak, who won the header and it dropped for the Dutchman to give United the lead.

Minutes later, the hosts sent a free-kick into the area which was beaten away by Jake Eastwood in the away goal.

Shortly after, Alex Gilliead threaded the ball through to Novak but the flag was up against the striker as Mark Howard made the save.

The home side then had a chance as a corner was flighted in from the left flank but headed wide by Rocky Bushiri.

Following a great ball from van Veen to Novak down the left flank, Scunthorpe made it two on 25 minutes. Eisa doubled the Iron’s advantage with a brilliant strike, cutting inside before opening up the angle and unleashing an effort which nestled into the bottom corner.

Shortly after, Ryan Hardie rolled an effort just wide of the upright for the Tangerines, taking aim from the edge of the area.

After great play from Kgosi Ntlhe down the left on 35 minutes, United attacked across the pitch, with Novak playing it Alex Gilliead, and then to Jordan Clarke, whose shot from the right took a deflection off Novak and forced a save from Howard in the home goal.

Scunthorpe continued to control the opening half, and during the eight minutes of stoppage time, came close as van Veen’s free-kick was weighted towards McArdle at the back post. His header eventually reached Ntlhe who almost connected with a bicycle kick, but the ball went out for a goal kick.

Shortly after, following a right-wing Thompson corner, Joe Nuttall sent an effort wide of goal for the hosts.

The visitors started the second-half well as Curtis Tilt had to get a challenge in to deny van Veen a clear run on goal on 48 minutes, before, a minute later, Eisa played it to the Dutchman, who blasted a shot over the crossbar.

Following a triple substitution, Blackpool tested Eastwood in the Iron goal as Sullay Kaikai’s low powerful effort from 25 yards prompted him to parry the ball away, diving low to his right.

The ball was then played through down the right side of the area to Nuttall, and the Iron central defenders had to marshal away for a corner. The set-piece was cleared before Curtis Tilt sent a shot in, which Eastwood had to dive down low to his left to keep out.

After Lund won a free-kick 25 yards out, van Veen stepped up to take it on 69 minutes, and his fizzing strike drew a stop from Howard, retrieving the ball to his left.

The 70th minute saw the hosts pull one back through Joe Nuttall, who halved the deficit from close range after Nathan Delfouneso’s shot had been blocked away.

Eastwood was forced into a smart stop moments later, blocking away an effort from Matty Virtue.

The 75th minute saw Callum Guy sent off for the hosts, shown a second yellow card after a deliberate handball to stop Eisa breaking away down the left flank.

United tried to make their extra man count, and a passing move on 77 minutes ended with van Veen clearing the crossbar with a long range strike.

With 10 minutes left. Clarke played Novak in down the right, who fizzed an effort goalwards that was tipped away by the goalkeeper, but the offside flag was up.

After a dangerous ball into the Iron area, the ball dropped for Bushiri, but Eastwood got down well to make a terrific stop to keep out the Seasiders’ player’s attempt.

Shortly after, as United broke down the left and got a cross in, the ball reached Clarke, who struck an attempt over the crossbar.

Novak was then put through down the left side of the area, springing the offside trap, on 87 minutes but dragged his strike wide of goal.

The victory was sealed on 90 minutes as Gilliead dribbled through the centre of the field and played in Eisa, who rounded the goalkeeper and fired in his second goal of the game to seal a 3-1 success.

BLACKPOOL: Howard, Bushiri, Edwards, Hardie (Kaikai, 57), Scannell (Delfouneso, 57), Thompson, Tilt, Turton, Nuttall, Guy, MacDonald (Virtue, 57).

BLACKPOOL SUBS NOT USED: Mafoumbi, Nottingham, Husband, Weston.

IRON: Eastwood, Clarke, Ntlhe, Lund, van Veen (McAtee, 90), Perch, Novak, Gilliead (Dales, 90), McArdle, McGahey, Eisa.

IRON SUBS NOT USED: Watson, Butler, Brown, Miller, Bedeau.

ATTENDANCE:1,196 (82 away).