Report: Iron 0-2 Exeter City

United suffered a 2-0 home loss at the hands of promotion-chasing Exeter City on Tuesday night.

The Iron made five changes going into the game, as Jordan Clarke, Ryan Loft, Devarn Green, Alfie Beestin and Jem Karacan came in for Harrison McGahey, Kevin van Veen, Lewis Spence, Alex Gilliead and Jordan Hallam.

There was a quick start from the Iron, who won a throw on the left following Mason O’Malley’s early pass into Abo Eisa with Green also lurking, forcing the Grecians to hook clear.

On five minutes, Hippolyte did well down the right side to shrug off his marker and put in a cross towards Loft. The visitors cleared with Karacan lurking for the rebound, but Exeter managed to get the ball away.

Exeter won the first corner of the game on seven minutes, when Rowe intercepted just as a cross was about to come in from the left. Green won the ball back from the short corner.

With around 10 minutes played, Exeter won a free-kick 25 yards from goal which was taken by Matt Jay, and he fired into the net.

Soon after, the visiting team's Jake Taylor got into space on the outside of the box and had a low effort on goal, which was deflected wide for a corner which Beestin hooked clear.

Seven minutes later after the goal, Rowe blocked another attempted cross from the left side to concede a corner. Jay’s set piece was short to Archie Collins before neat play saw a low cross intercepted and cleared by Hippolyte.

On 18 minutes, O’Malley made a vital interception following a low, inviting cross from the right. The visitors won a corner, but a free-kick was awarded to the Iron as it came into the box.

The 23rd minute saw a free-kick to the Iron on the right channel. O’Malley whipped the ball in on the in-swinger, with Exeter heading away the danger.

Green received treatment after receiving a whack to the face three minutes later, but was able to continue.

The Grecians' Collins went on the left side just out the area, with the referee awarding a free-kick. Willmott put in the free-kick, searching for former Iron Rory McArdle’s head, but Howard was out to gather.

On 32 minutes, Hippolyte looked to surge onto a through ball into the area, but Jokull Andersson was out to gather quickly. Exeter then fired an effort wide of the target.

Four minutes later, Jai Rowe cut onto his left foot on the edge of the area and sent a low shot wide of Andersson’s left-hand post.

In the 41st minute, Jacob Bedeau did well under pressure from Ryan Bowman to cushion the ball back to Mark Howard. The latter landed on the Iron defender, but he was soon back to his feet.

There was an early second half effort for Loft, who turned and fired wide from the edge of the box after Beestin had put the ball into his path.

The 50th minute saw Eisa and Hippolyte combine down the left side, with the latter cutting back to Loft. He moved onto his left foot with a ricochet flying towards goal and grabbed by Andersson.

Two minutes later there was a vital block from Clarke as Bowman looked to turn in a low cross from the right. It resulted in a corner to the visitors as the deflection took the ball wide and out of play.

With 54 minutes gone, Green, Eisa and Loft chased down a forward ball from Beestin and almost caused the visitors to make a mistake with one clearance blocked before a free-kick was awarded to Exeter.

A free-kick was won by the away team on 56 minutes, as Jay again bent the set-piece towards goal, with Howard getting his fingertips on the ball to send the ball out for a corner.

United then won a corner as a back header from the visiting defence went out of play. Rowe raced into the box late to try to connect with Eisa’s corner, but Andersson was out to take the ball.

Just before the hour mark, Beestin went in for a 50-50 and came away with possession before slipping in Green on the right. His shot went across goal and wide of the target.

Then, moments later at the other end, Jay stabbed a close range effort wide of the post following a cut-back from the left channel.

There was then a corner to the Iron as a neat flick from Loft set Green down the right before his cross was turned behind.

The 63rd minute saw the first Scunthorpe change on the night as van Veen replaced Loft.

Just seconds after, Beestin surged down the right side and won the Iron a free-kick. O’Malley’s delivery went through to Clarke at the back post but he couldn't angle his header on target.

Eisa won a free-kick in the 68th minute as he latched onto a kick from Howard, with Josh Key penalised. It saw a brilliant ball put in from van Veen, with Beestin rising highest at the back post. His header went across goal and just wide of the target.

On the break, Exeter's Jay sent an effort over the bar from the edge of the area as he ran onto the ball, striking with his right foot. Then, three minutes after, Taylor stabbed an effort wide of the target for the visitors.

There was a triple change for the Iron with 15 minutes left, as Hallam, Gilliead and Spence came on for Green, Hippolyte and Karacan.

There were a couple of corners for the Iron following those alterations. The first was headed behind, before the second was recycled with Spence’s cross hitting the top of the net.

On 80 minutes, Exeter's Joel Randall fired across goal and wide for the visitors following a move down the right side.

A fifth and final Scunthorpe change of the night came in the 86th minute as Teddy Howe replaced Rowe for his debut.

Exeter scored a second goal in the 89th minute when Jack Sparkes sent the ball into the net, driving in from the edge of the area.

IRON: Howard, Clarke, Bedeau, Loft (van Veen, 63), Eisa, Green (Hallam, 75), Hippolyte (Gilliead, 75), Beestin, Karacan (Spence,75), Rowe (Howe, 86), O'Malley.

IRON SUBS NOT USED: Watson, Brown.

EXETER: Andresson, Key (Caprice, 78), McArdle, Hartridge, Page (Sparkes, 78), Willmott (Sweeney, 69), Taylor, Collins, Randall (Seymour, 89), Jay (Atangana, 89), Bowman.

EXETER SUBS NOT USED: Lee, Fisher.