The Iron triumphed 2-0 over an in-form Farsley Celtic team with two well-crafted goals from Jason Law and Danny Whitehall.
Scunthorpe were back at Glanford Park for a highly anticipated Boxing Day encounter with northern neighbours Farsley Celtic. The Celts came into the fixture sitting 12th in the Vanarama National League North standings, and with an impressive eight game unbeaten run under their belts, Clayton Donaldson’s men were looking to upturn the in-form Iron.
First team manager Jimmy Dean made one alteration to the side that were unfortunate to only grab a point against Buxton last Saturday. Heart of Midlothian loanee Connor Smith was absent from the matchday squad due to unforeseen circumstances, hence the winger was replaced by creative outlet Alfie Beestin who returned to league action for the first time since Scarborough Athletic in late August.
Ever-present midfielder Jacob Butterfield got the game underway for United. The tie’s opening 10 minutes were unentertaining to say the least, as neither side were able to string together a succession of passes.
The ongoing theme of lacklustre football continued until the 15th minute of the tie when Scunthorpe crafted themselves the first notable chance of the game. The Iron finally got control of the ball in the midfield and, after exquisitely keeping possession, a bouncing ball found Tyler Denton who lofted a pinpoint cross onto the head of top scorer Danny Whitehall. Whitehall had a seemingly free header but was unable to steer his effort goalward as it dropped wide.
As play progressed at a steady pace, the only chances created were several long-ranged Butterfield efforts that failed to test Everton loanee Zan-Luk Leban between the Farsley posts. Former Iron defender Isaac Assenso and his centre-back partner Rudy Misambo were doing an inspired job of keeping the scores level by blocking everything in their paths.
From the 35th minute onwards, the half seemed to kick into life as firstly Farsley came marginally close to taking the lead through captain Connor Branson leapt highest to meet a deep cross and direct a header past the rooted Fitzsimons only for the ball to cannon off the outside of the post.
The initial warning was followed by jubilation amongst the travelling Celtics faithful as explosive winger Joao Silva helped an already goal bound effort into an open goal, the celebrations however were cut short as Silva was deemed to be in an offside position meaning the scores remained level.
With the score line luckily still level, Scunthorpe began to advance in search of the game’s opening goal. On the stroke of half-time United came their closest to taking the lead yet. The returning Beestin spun his marker down the right flank and fizzed a dangerous low ball across the face of goal that found Whitehall, however Leban expertly dived down to deny the forward from close range.
With the teams back out following the interval, the game was still dangling in the balance with both sides still in the chase for three crucial points, however the hosts were the ones to draw first blood ten minutes into the second period’s affairs. Farsley were unable to clear the ball following a Butterfield corner and eventually it landed at the feet of Jason Law who made all time stand sill as his shot trickled past Leban and into the net.
Three minutes on and Law was wheeling away in celebration once more after he capitalised excellently on a Denton cross that found his expertly timed run. This time however it was Scunthorpe’s turn to be denied by the outstretched flag of Peter Dingle.
A goal down and in desperate need of an equaliser, substitute and former Scarborough forward Michael Coulson came immensely close to finding it. Fitzsimons was forced into action by Coulson’s flicked header and acrobatically sprung to his right to divert the ball round his far post.
Despite Farsley’s chances, the Iron were now in free flow and performing exceptionally well. Their now established dominance led to a second goal of the afternoon for Scunthorpe as Law again played an integral part. Law was fed the ball within the area and again unleashed a volley that appeared to be rolling just wide of the mark but for the intervention of Whitehall who slid in to grab his 14th goal of the campaign.
United’s 2-0 lead would remain intact and untouched for the rest of the contest, as the remaining minutes fizzled out with no notable chances being conjured by either outfit. The win signals an eight consecutive home win on home soil for the Iron which is ever so crucial in the quest for promotion.
IRON: Fitzsimons, Ogle, Evans, Boyce, Clunan, Beestin (Wilson, 79), Butterfield (Shrimpton, 79), Scales, Law, Denton, Whitehall (Elliott, 68).
IRON SUBS: Kelly, Kouogun.