Report: Mansfield Town U18s 1-2 Iron U18s

The Iron’s Under-18 side made it two wins from a possible two, as they overcame Mansfield Town 2-1 in the EFL Youth Alliance League on Saturday.

The first-half was a cagey encounter, with both sides creating chances in search of a goal. Mansfield however began to ask questions of United's defence early on, as some good deliveries into the Scunthorpe box started to test the Academy’s backline. 

As the opening 45 minutes went on, United grew into the game creating changes of their own. A well worked corner from the right hand side was met by Ben Pike, who headed his goal bound effort narrowly wide. 

Harrison Poulter also came agonisingly close to opening the scoring too, as the Iron’s number 10 went through one-on-one after some good build up play. However his chipped effort was in turn smartly saved by the Mansfield keeper.

With the game goalless at the interval, it was United who made the breakthrough just a mere 90 seconds after the restart, Defender Ben Pike made amends for the chance he narrowly missed in the first-half. Scunthorpe's No 4 found himself unmarked at the back post once again following a smart corner routine, meeting the delivery perfectly to open the scoring for the Under-18s side. 

On 66 minutes however, the hosts hit back via the penalty spot to level the game once more, forcing both sides once again to go in search of a go ahead goal.

However, it was the Iron who snatched victory with only three minutes left to play. Striker Harrison Poulter was on hand to finish a really well worked goal with multiple players involved in the build-up. The No 10 smashed home his fourth of the campaign. 

With two wins from two so far in the EFL Youth Alliance League for Tony Daws’ side, the Academy Manager was full of praise for his team following the 2-1 win.

On the victory, Daws said: "It was a real tough game today, a real battle and Mansfield are a decent side with some good players. It was a performance today where every one of the lads had to roll their sleeves up and compete and fight for each other. A real workman-like performance."

Striker Poulter has made a great start to the season and Daws was also full of praise for the match winner's contrubution.

"Harrison’s got his fourth in two games and he’s done really well, it’s really good for his confidence," said Daws.

Next up for the Under-18s is a Youth Alliance Cup tie at home to Rochdale on Saturday (11am kick-off), with the side looking to extend their 100 per cent record with yet another victory.

IRON: Foster, Cribb, Lewis, Pike, Elliott-Bell, Lobley, Hancock, Franklin, Sellars-Fleming, Poulter, Robertson.