The Iron’s Under 18 side were 5-2 winners in their first game of the EFL Youth Alliance Merit League break-off on Saturday morning, as they safely saw off Huddersfield Town at home.
Harrison Poulter, Tyrell-Sellars Fleming, Josh Robertson and Finn Abraham all netted in the victory, in a comfortable and comprehensive performance.
Huddersfield started the game in blistering style, as direct from kick-off, the ball was in the back of the net following a neat pass in behind the Iron’s defence. Luckily enough, the flag had already been raised for offside on the far side.
The visitors did then take the lead with 10 minutes played, as a quick corner routine was played short to the Terriers number 11, who fired in a superb strike from the edge of the area.
United should have equalised shortly after, as Abraham was found unmarked inside the box, with the midfielder unlucky to not steer his header on target, flashing just wide.
Another corner for Town presented more danger shortly after, with the post coming to aid Scunthorpe’s defence this time. A smart header from the visitors defender had posed initial danger, but the ball was fortunately scrambled clear soon after.
Nat Wallace then burst forward down the left flank with twenty minutes played, as he cleverly picked out Robertson. His left footed strike had to be subsequently saved well by the Huddersfield keeper.
Scunthorpe then had three chances in quick succession to draw the game level, as Charley Strouther first picked out Robertson on the edge of the area, who first saw his shot saved. The ball then fell kindly to Wallace who again was denied, with Poulter’s follow-up flashing across the face of the goal too.
Poulter again came close seconds later, as he twisted and turned well in the area, before shooting just narrowly wide of the mark, as did Harry Baker too just after.
Poulter then made no mistake just after the half-hour mark, as he raced through in behind the Town defence, cleverly slotting home to tie the game level.
In the final action of the first half, Poulter was involved once more, as he smartly turned his marker in the box, before lifting his right footed effort over the bar.
As the second-half began, it was the Iron who took the lead for the first time through Sellars-Fleming. Strouther did superbly to win the ball back down the left flank, before producing a wonderful cross for United number nine to easily tap home.
Scunthorpe then extended their advantage to two as Poulter converted his second of the game from the penalty spot, after strike partner Sellars-Fleming had been fouled just moments before after racing through one-on-one.
The Iron were in the mood in the second period as a wonderful team move culminated in Wallace picking out the unmarked Robertson at the back post, who smashed home his side's fourth just past the hour mark.
Huddersfield then pulled a goal back just five minutes later, as a looping free-kick was met by Town’s full-back, who smartly headed home.
Strouther then burst forward down the left flank once more, as he continued into the visitors penalty area before firing just wide.
Sellars-Fleming then turned provider shortly after, as he wonderfully set Robertson free one-on-one, before United's number 11 lifted his goal bound effort just a fraction too high.
Substitute forward Grayson Giles was then played through for his first attempt on goal, with the Huddersfield keeper saving well.
From the resulting corner however it was five, as a goalmouth scrambled ensued, with Abraham eventually prodding the ball home from close range.
The victory ensured the Iron began their EFL Merit League break-off in style, with the full-time whistling sounding shortly after.
Academy manager Tony Daws was full of praise for his side following the triumph, as he began: “I thought the lads were excellent today, a really well rounded performance against a strong physical side in Huddersfield.
“We had our chances in the first-half and then in the second period everything seemed to click really, which culminated in some superb football."
The Iron return to action next weekend with an away trip to face Burton Albion on Saturday April 9th (11:00 kick-off).
IRON: Balme, Baker, Pike, Elliot-Bell, Wallace, Lobley, Abraham, Robertson (Devine, 88), Strouther, Poulter (Dawson, 88) Sellars-Fleming (Giles, 77).