Report: Iron 0-2 FC Halifax Town

United were beaten 2-0 at home by FC Halifax Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

The Iron entered the game against Halifax making changes from the side that was beaten at Bromley at the weekend, as Elliott Whitehouse, Isaac Fletcher and Nat Wallace came in for Alfie Beestin, Dan Gallimore and Liam Feeney.

On nine minutes, debutant Fletcher slotted in Joe Nuttall down the right. The number nine looked to turn in but the defender nicked it.

Four minutes later, Nuttall was slipped in down the left hand side. He drove with pace into the box, opened himself up, and fired at goal. Sam Johnson was down to it though.

In the 17th minute, Angelo Capello tried his luck, but his effort was deflected away by Reagan Ogle.

Six minutes later, there were a few quick passes and Nuttall was in. He tried to place the ball into the bottom right corner, but the goalkeeper was there to save.

With 38 minutes gone, Kian Spence scored from a free-kick for the hosts on the edge of the area.

Soon after, the same player had a go at goal with a speculative effort from range, which went wide.

In the 43rd minute, Jordan Keane fired the ball across the Iron box, and into the feet of Stott. His shot was over the top though.

There was a double Scunthorpe change at the break as Robert Apter, who was signed from Blackpool a day earlier, and Feeney came on for Jai Rowe and Jacob Butterfield.

Three minutes into the second-half, Apter received the ball in the middle of the pitch and drove on. He was in space, opened himself up, and tried his luck, but the strike was wide.

Soon after, Fletcher flicked the ball forward, it took a deflection, and fell to Wallace. The winger connected first time, but the keeper was there to collect.

After Wallace was brought down on the edge of the area, Nuttall stepped up, but the free-kick attempt was deflected. The ball looped over and dipped just wide of the post.

Not long after, Wallace was replaced by Marcus Carver for the final Scunthorpe change.

In the 63rd minute, Apter was slipped in down the right, but his shot was pushed away. The Iron recovered and built again, with the ball eventually falling to Feeney. The captain pulled three step overs before firing a shot at goal. Johnson just saved though.

Soon after, Nuttall beat his man, pushed the ball out his feet, and tried to curl the ball into the top right corner, but it was off-target.

Then, Apter was played in by Fletcher and saw his low drive saved by the away goalkeeper.

On 82 minutes, Feeney curled a ball into the area, but it was just past the heads of Carver and Nuttall.

With two minutes of the game remaining, Halifax substitute Jordan Slew seized on a defensive mix-up and fired in the away side's second goal, sealing the game.

Scunthorpe return to action on Saturday when they host Boreham Wood (3pm kick-off).

IRON: Dewhurst, Ogle, Whitehouse, Boyce, Nuttall, Rowe (Feeney, 45), Taft, Butterfield (Apter, 45), Daniel, Fletcher, Wallace (Carver, 62).

IRON SUBS NOT USED: Beestin, Gallimore.

HALIFAX: Johnson, Senior, Debrah, Stott, Spence (Slew, 65), Dieseruvwe, Hunter, Keane, Capello (Alli, 75), Gilmour (Cooke, 60), Minihan.

HALIFAX SUBS NOT USED: Golden, Harker.

ATTENDANCE: 3,107.