United's Under-23s were defeated 3-0 at West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League Cup on Thursday afternoon.
The Iron had the first opening of the game on three minutes as Yasin Ben El-Mhanni broke down the right and shaped to cross, but the ball was put out for another corner. That cross was met by Trialist, but the effort went over.
A minute later, the Iron drove forward again, with Reon Potts receiving the ball in space. He shaped to shoot before cutting onto his left foot and firing over the bar from 25-yards out.
With 12 minutes gone, Harry Williams headed wide following a right-winged corner for the hosts.
Soon after, Trialist and Jo Cummings both got in the way of long range efforts from Jack Chambers in as many seconds before the Iron played the ball clear.
With 15 minutes played, Finley Thorndike had an effort blocked by Cummings as he weaved his way into the area down the left. Cummings was then again on hand to head clear an inviting right-winged cross.
On 23 minutes, Devarn Green picked up a second ball after Jai Rowe stole in with a tackle, with the former Southport player driving at the defence, but this time seeing his drilled effort saved by Cann.
The opener for the hosts arrived four minutes later as Thorndike crossed into the box, with a bullet header from Cheikh Diary rifling past Adam Kelsey and into the net.
With 29 minutes gone, there was a second for the hosts as Diaby rolled in his second from close range following an inviting cross from the left by Tyrese Dyce.
The 31st minute saw a good response from the Iron, with Jordan Hallam (getting a valuable 45 minutes of game time following his return from a hamstring injury), Potts and Rowe combining down the right. Hallam then picked up the ball and knocked it past Dyce before being wiped out. No free-kick was given though.
There was then good play between George Hornshaw and Green as the former picked out the latter on the right before the advanced run from Hornshaw was picked out. Potts was almost in from the following pass, but the ball went out.
Thorndike almost added a third for the hosts on 38 minutes following a quick break which resulted in Kelsey making a fine close-range save from the low cross and eventual shot. Faal blazed over the rebound which came to him from 10-yards out.
On 40 minutes, there was almost a chance for the Iron as Green’s run was met with a brilliant cross-field pass. His first touch was excellent, but in doing so he slipped on the surface and the last Albion defender was able to clear.
There was a goal disallowed for the hosts on the stroke of half-time as Faal prodded into the net from close range following a good move involving Thorndike. The final pass into Faal saw the flag raised.
Soon after the restart, there was superb defending from Mason O’Malley as he prevented a certain goal by sliding in to intercept a low left-winged cross, diverting the ball behind for a corner.
With 53 minutes played, somehow the Iron weren’t awarded a penalty as O’Malley’s left-winged cross was met with a header by Cummings. Albion ‘keeper Cann came out to punch clear, but instead punched Cummings in the head, with the defender staying down. He was okay to continue soon after and play restarted.
Then, a quick throw on the left by O’Malley was received by Ben El-Mhanni. He turned before searching for Green’s run into the box. He slid to meet the ball but couldn’t get his toe on it.
On 62 minutes, a shot came in following a tee-up, with substitute Harry Jessop the runner towards the ball. He slid in, with bodies on the line stopping the ball from going into the goal.
Diaby sealed his hat-trick six minutes later, putting the ball in following a blocked volley from Faal.
In the 72nd minute, substitute Finley Shrimpton came across, inside the Iron penalty area, to slide in and concede a corner as the hosts pushed for another goal.
Trialist cleared the first ball into the area, with the ball then dropping for Thorndike, who controlled and lashed wide a shot from 18-yards.
There was then a chance for the Iron as a couple of neat passes from Shrimpton opened up space for Jessop. He controlled from 25-yards before curling an effort narrowly over the crossbar.
With 15 minutes left, Ben El-Mhanni was played in over the top, with the winger breaking the offside trap. He was closely marshalled and cut onto his left foot before a low drive was saved by Cann.
For the hosts, Gardner-Hickman drove forward and cut onto his left foot. His left-footed effort from the edge of the box was blocked by his own teammate though.
The same player came close again on 85 minutes as he picked up the ball 35-yards from goal. He took one touch before rocketing a shot goalwards, with the ball tipped over by Kelsey.
In the final minute of stoppage time, Tom Pugh fired over the bar from just outside the area as the Iron pressed for a consolation goal.
IRON: Kelsey, Rowe, O’Malley, Pugh, Cummings, Trialist, Green, Hornshaw (Shrimpton, 69), Potts (Wilson, 77), Hallam (Jessop, 45), Ben El-Mhanni.
IRON SUBS NOT USED: Riches, Barks.
