Report: Iron 3-0 Grimsby Town

Abo Eisa scored a brace, with Ryan Loft also on target, as the Iron defeated local rivals Grimsby Town 3-0 at home on #DerbyDay this Saturday.

Eisa's stunning free-kick opened the scoring, before Loft scrambled home the second during the first half.

His strike partner then got his second of the afternoon midway through the second-half.

Scunthorpe made four changes going into the game, with Emmanuel Onariase, Devarn Green, Eisa and Mason O'Malley coming in for Harrison McGahey, Myles Hippolyte, Lewis Spence and Junior Brown.

On two minutes, there was an early corner for the Iron as Green got the ball on the left, beat his man and saw the cross turned behind. There was a good delivery into the box by Alex Gilliead, but the visitors managed to hook clear for a throw.

Grimsby then came forward and played the ball down the right channel, but the ball into the box was comfortably claimed by Mark Howard.

Green then looked to beat his man on the left side after good work to get the ball over to him, but the Mariners defence did well to shield the ball out for a goal kick.

After 13 minutes, there was an inviting ball into the box by Alfie Beestin with Loft and Green lurking. Grimsby cleared, but the Iron came again and Eisa wins a free-kick right on the edge of the area.

From it, the Iron took the lead as Eisa's terrific set-piece beat the wall and the ‘keeper with a thunderous effort into the top corner for his fifth goal of the season.

With 20 minutes played, Onariase nipped in as Hanson looked to run through following a ricochet. Onariase then received a blatant push in the back from Matt Green as he cleared. It resulted in a free-kick to the Iron.

Two minutes later, there was a superb tackle inside the box from Onariase as Green was slotted through. Onariase recovered to slide in, with George Taft also coming across to clear.

With 25 minutes gone, Loft worked hard down the right to squeeze in a low cross towards Eisa. However, the away side cleared for a throw.

After winning a free-kick down the right, O’Malley’s delivery searched for Loft. The hosts cleared, with Eisa looking to retrieve the ball, but it went out for a throw.

There was then a big decision as Beestin shielded the ball out for a goal kick, with Max Wright appearing to kick out at him as the ball ran out of play. It resulted in a yellow card for the Mariners player.

With 34 minutes played, Mattie Pollock went down low for a header and took Loft out. He stayed down holding his back, but he was soon on his feet and able to continue.

Soon after, the Iron won a corner on the right, and Gilliead played low to Eisa, who ended up on the deck as he won the race to the ball. The referee was scrambling to get into a position to see it, and gave a goal kick.

At the other end, Onariase cleared for a Grimsby corner at the other end, with Sam Habergham crossing for Rollin Menayese, but he couldn't get his header on target.

However, Scunthorpe soon added their second goal on 38 minutes when a Gilliead free-kick from the left came into the box, it dropped to Loft and the ball took an age to roll into the corner of the net. It was his fifth goal of the season.

After, there were well-timed tackles flying in from the Iron as they looked to win the ball back. Loft came in with the last one in that sequence on 44 minutes and looked to break clear to find Eisa in space but the visitors put it out for a throw.

The first minute of stoppage time almost saw a third for the Iron. There was brilliant play from Beestin as he got free, and sent Green through, but the attacker was denied by a fine save from James McKeown.

The start of the second period saw a chance drop for Beestin on the edge of the area. The ball dropped nicely for the midfielder from range as Eisa did well from an aerial position. His left-footed half-volley went wide though.

The 49th minute saw good defending from the Iron following a Grimsby free-kick with the ball headed away by Loft, amongst others, before a left-sided cross went out for a goal kick.

With 52 minutes gone, Taft stayed down with a head injury following an aerial collision with Grimsby spreading the ball left to right. Treatment was on for the Bolton loanee, but eventually he was fine enough to carry on after a four minute delay.

Around the hour mark, Luke Spokes had a shot from range, with an offside Town player running across Mark Howard’s eyeline. The flag went up, but Howard made the save, so play continued.

Soon after, Eisa won a free-kick on the left, which Gilliead floated in. Loft rose to meet it with a header, but the ball went off target.

At the other end, Howard claimed a free-kick into the box from the visitors from the left side following a foul on Matt Green.

Eisa added his second goal on 65 minutes, as he broke the offside trap and advanced on goal before coolly slotting beyond McKeown.

Two minutes later, there was almost a fourth as a free-kick was taken on the right channel by the Iron. O’Malley’s delivery was brilliant, onto the head of Loft, but the ball went narrowly over the bar.

Scunthorpe made their first change of the afternoon soon after, as Jordan Clarke was replaced by Jai Rowe, and then shortly after made two more as Green and Jem Karacan made way for John McAtee and Spence.

The 74th minute saw a chance for Eisa’s hat-trick as he set up the ball nicely on the edge of the box before sending his volley over the bar. Loft was booked soon after as he went in with a late tackle.

With 84 minutes gone, Gilliead weaved in and out and fell under contact inside the box but the referee cautioned him for simulation.

Straight after, Howard made a good save from George Williams’ shot as it bobbled up off the surface.

As the clock struck 88 minutes, Gilliead did brilliantly to weave through his man and spread the ball to Eisa. He beat his man before drawing McKeown into a good save.

Luke Hendrie played a ball in from the right for Grimsby which Luke Spokes struck, but saw his shot deflected wide during the first minute out of seven in stoppage time.

There was also a superb block from Eisa as he put his body on the line when Hendrie unleashed a long range shot. He stayed down but was soon back to his feet.

Loft was replaced by Jordan Hallam in the closing stages and United saw the game out for a 3-0 victory.

Scunthorpe return to action on Tuesday night when they host Port Vale at the Sands Venue Stadium.

IRON: Howard, Clarke (Rowe, 69), Taft, Onariase, Gilliead, Loft (Hallam, 90+3), Eisa, Green (McAtee, 74), Beestin, Karacan (Spence, 74), O'Malley.

IRON SUBS NOT USED: Watson, Bedeau, Hippolyte.

GRIMSBY: McKeown, Hendrie, Preston (Williams, 45), Green (Scannell, 72), Hanson (Jackson Jr, 72), Wright (Spokes, 45), Matete, Hewitt (Rose, 45), Pollock, Menayese, Habergham.

GRIMSBY SUBS NOT USED: Russell, Gibson.