The Iron's Under-18s take on Notts County away in the Youth Alliance League this Friday (1pm kick-off).
The game will be played at Basford United's home ground at Mill Street Playing Field, Greenwich Avenue, Basford, Nottingham NG6 0LD, and we'll have live coverage on the Academy Twitter site, in addition to a report and reaction from the fixture.
SCENE-SETTER
United's Under-18s were in action at home last weekend as they slipped to a third consecutive defeat against Chesterfield Under-18s.
Despite playing well for the second game in a row, the scoreline did not reflect the side's efforts and opportunities in front of goal as they lost more ground to league leaders Doncaster Rovers.
Notts County come into the game after being narrowly defeated against Rovers 3-2 last weekend, while won 4-2 on Tuesday against Scunthorpe's last opponents Chesterfield. It will be the third meeting between the two sides this season, with United winning the previous two. They came from 1-0 down to win 2-1 in the reverse fixture at the start of the season, while they also edged the FA Youth Cup tie 1-0 at Meadow Lane after extra time.
Scunthorpe sit in fourth currently with 25 points from 15 games. Bradford City, who beat the Iron a few weeks ago, leapfrogged them into third with a superior goal difference, albeit United have two games in hand. Should the side take advantage of their trio of surplus games on Doncaster, they would move to within four points of the side.
Notts County, meanwhile, are seventh in the division of 11 teams, jumping two places in midweek, having won two of their last six games. A win though would move them as high as third, though, and would put them ahead of the Iron on goal difference, while three points for the Iron would at least temporarily put them back second.
TEAM NEWS
Aidan Train continued to miss out last weekend after he pulled out in the warm-up of the Mansfield Town Under-18s match a few weeks ago.
Tom Collins returned to the line-up after missing the previous couple of games due to playing for the Under-23s - a knock on effect of Ian Lawlor's injury which has seen Adam Kelsey on the first team bench. First-year goalkeeper Ben Crosher is still working his way back to fitness following a fractured wrist sustained in pre-season, with Under-16s 'keeper Jake Balme continuing to deputise.
Along with Balme, Harry Lewis was an unused substitute for the side, as he emerges through from the Under-16s, while Ethan Young made his first start last time out too.
Tom Collins returned to the line-up after missing the previous couple of games due to playing for the Under-23s - a knock on effect of Ian Lawlor's injury which has seen Adam Kelsey on the first team bench. First-year goalkeeper Ben Crosher is still working his way back to fitness following a fractured wrist sustained in pre-season, with Under-16s 'keeper Jake Balme continuing to deputise.
Along with Balme, Harry Lewis was an unused substitute for the side, as he emerges through from the Under-16s, while Ethan Young made his first start last time out too.
Elsewhere, the side are largely back to full fitness, but feeling the effects of featuring in a number of Under-23s games, which has seen them lose pace on the top of the league.
LAST LINE-UP: Collins, Baker, Lobley, Kemp (Wilkinson, 72), Barks, Young, D. Gallimore, Dawson, Jessop, Wilson, Silva.
SUBS NOT USED: Balme, Lewis.
LAST LINE-UP: Collins, Baker, Lobley, Kemp (Wilkinson, 72), Barks, Young, D. Gallimore, Dawson, Jessop, Wilson, Silva.
SUBS NOT USED: Balme, Lewis.
ELSEWHERE IN THE YOUTH ALLIANCE NORTH EAST CONFERENCE
Saturday
Chesterfield v Bradford City (11am)
Lincoln City v Mansfield Town (11am)
Rotherham United v Doncaster Rovers (11am)
Chesterfield v Bradford City (11am)
Lincoln City v Mansfield Town (11am)
Rotherham United v Doncaster Rovers (11am)