The Iron lost 3-2 to Doncaster Rovers in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday night.
Six minutes in, the away side took the lead after Rodrigo Vilca’s low driven shot from the edge of the area took a deflection and crept past Rory Watson into the net.
Scunthorpe had their first chance on the 10 minute mark when Lewis Thompson crossed the ball into the box with Tom Pugh striking the ball on the half volley but the shot went wide.
Watson then made a routine save after Tommy Rowe launched a shot from outside the box.
Moments later, the away side scored again through Joe Dodoo when the visitors struck on the counterattack leaving the striker one-on-one and placing the ball into the net.
Five minutes before half-time, Myles Hippolyte had a brilliant chance after picking the ball up on the edge of the box and rifled a shot across goal towards the goalkeeper's back post but it drifted the wrong side of the post and out for a goal-kick.
Aaron Jarvis started the second half brightly for Scunthorpe after Pugh put a ball over the top of the defence with Jarvis running in behind and hitting a low shot which forced Louis Jones into a diving save.
The Iron No 1 kept the away side at bay after making an incredible save from a one-on-one Rowe shot, with the away side picking up the rebound but the second effort bounced off the bar and out for a goal-kick.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Dodoo gave the visitors a three goal lead after sneaking the ball past Watson’s near post.
Scunthorpe almost responded instantly after Hippolyte played Hayden Hackney down the right wing with the midfielder driving towards goal but he hit the ball straight at the keeper.
Brandon Horton had a chance on goal for Doncaster when his outside of the foot shot went high over the bar.
Dodoo had another effort saved by Watson after his effort was palmed away by the shot stopper.
Ryan Loft then had an opportunity moments later when his header drifted away from goal and out for a Rovers goal-kick. The same player then saw a chance go high over the bar after volleying Thompson’s cross.
Loft kept being a handful for the Doncaster defenders after having another shot which this time was caught by Jones.
Hippolyte, minutes later, was through on goal after Alex Perry played a brilliant throughball. He drove forward but his cross body shot couldn’t get out of reach of Jones who made a great save.
Scunthorpe put the ball in the back of the net through Ryan Loft after he dinked his shot into the far post, giving Jones no chance to save it.
United then scored again moments later after Jake Scrimshaw's headed effort went in at the far post, which again Jones couldn’t do anything about with three minutes left to play.
Scrimshaw had another late goal disallowed as United suffered a narrow defeat.
IRON: Watson, Taft, Green (Loft, 37), Hippolyte, Rowe, Wood, Thompson, Jarvis (Scrimshaw, 73) Pugh, Perry, Hackney (Kenyon, 66).
IRON SUBS NOT USED: Balme, O’Malley, Wilson, Lobley.
DONCASTER: Jones, Knoyle, Anderson, Rowe, Smith, Vilca, Dodoo (Goodman, 86), Horton, Hasani, Blythe, Kuleya (Hollings, 80).
DONCASTER SUBS NOT USED: Bottomley, Wolney, Raper, Cole, Fletcher.
ATTENDANCE: 1,011.