The Iron's Under-18s play their final game of the Youth Alliance League this Saturday as they host their Huddersfield Town counterparts (11am kick-off).
Please note, in line with the current EFL COVID-19 guidelines, no spectators are permitted at these games.
SCENE-SETTER
United have played their last few home games at Doncaster Rovers' 4G facility next to the Keepmoat Stadium and have had to contend with windy conditions on each of their visits there.
Last time out was the reverse fixture between the two teams, with the Iron coming out on top in a 3-1 win with Joey Dawson (two) and Dan Gallimore netting.
Our opponents will have one eye on the Youth Alliance Cup as they progressed to the latest stage of the competition with a resounding 7-1 win over Walsall after they emerged from their Group Stage campaign unbeaten following a win over Fleetwood Town and a draw against Blackpool. They host Grimsby Town in the next round on March 30th.
They've faired less favourably in the league, however, and currently sit ninth out of 10 teams with five wins and 10 defeats in their 15 games to date. Their last league game was Tuesday, March 9th when they beat Mansfield Town 2-1.
United are still second in the table with Notts County the runaway leaders of the division. A win in this match would all but secure a second-placed finish and would require Grimsby to win all their remaining games to overtake the side, although Scunthorpe are definitely guaranteed a top three finish going into the merit league.
TEAM NEWS
United were almost back to full strength last time out with a number of their first and second year scholars returning to the starting line-up for the match.
Harry Baker remains out with a knee injury, while Ben Franklin started for the first time in a while in the reverse fixture, and played the full 90 minutes, following his recent lay-off. Alex Wilkinson is still out having missed much of the season.
Patrick Virgo, who came off against Burton a couple of weeks ago, also missed the game against the Terriers. Ben Crosher was back in the starting XI in between the sticks, in place of Jake Balme.
LAST TIME OUT (W3-1 v Huddersfield Town - Youth Alliance League)
IRON: Crosher, Moore, Lobley, Kemp, Young, Gallimore, Franklin, Wilson, Poulter (Cribb, 54), Dawson, Lewis.
IRON UNUSED SUBS: Balme, Moore-Billam, Strouther, Abraham.
LAST TIME OUT (NORTH EAST CONFERENCE)
Tuesday 9th
Bradford City 2-2 Rotherham United
Grimsby Town 1-1 Notts County
Huddersfield Town 2-1 Mansfield Town
Saturday 13th
Mansfield Town 1-0 Doncaster Rovers
Tuesday 16th
Grimsby Town 2-0 Burton Albion
ELSEWHERE IN THE LEAGUE
Saturday
Doncaster Rovers v Bradford City (11am)
Grimsby Town v Mansfield Town (11am)
LEAGUE TABLE
