United were beaten 4-1 by Chesterfield on New Years Day.
The Iron travelled to the Technique Stadium for their first game of the new year, and for what was their second league game against the Spireites in under a week.
Michael Nelson made three changes from the side that faced Chesterfield on Boxing Day. Marcus Dewhurst replaced the injured Owen Foster, Jai Rowe returned to the side and Cameron Wilson also started.
Jacob Butterfield got the game underway and the Iron were immediately on the front foot. Alfie Beestin picked up the ball between the lines and he managed to slot a ball through to the onrushing Wilson. Wilson drove at the Chesterfield defence and he managed to get a cross into the area. However, there was no support for him and it was an easy claim for Ross Fitzsimons.
United looked to get control of the ball early on in the game and they managed this. The Iron were dominating possession and looking to create many chances. Chesterfield were trying to play on the counter attack early on in this encounter.
In the ninth minute of the game, Chesterfield had their first real opportunity of the game. They received a free kick in a wide area after a foul from Finley Shrimpton. Jeff King whipped the ball into the Iron area and it was dangerous. However, no Chesterfield player got on the end of it and the ball rolled out for a goal kick.
The home side created another opportunity minutes later. King was involved once more. Armando Dobra drove at the Iron defence and he spotted King out on the right-hand flank and he played a ball through to him. King then nearly put the hosts in front with a mis-hit cross. His cross looked to be heading into the far corner but Marcus Dewhurst was alert and he got a strong right hand to the ball to turn it behind for a corner.
The hosts created another big opportunity after a good bit of work on the right-hand flank by Akwasi Asante. He beat his man and drilled a low cross into the Iron area. Liam Manderville met this cross and he was unmarked. Around eight yards from goal, he came onto the ball and he hit his shot into the ground and this took the power out of it. All the power had gone and this made it an easy save for Dewhurst.
In the 20th minute, United took the lead. Beestin found himself with space and time on the edge of the Chesterfield area. He decided to take on a shot and his shot had real power and this troubled Fitzsimons. All he could do was parry the shot and the ball looped up into the air. Wilson was the first player to react and he skilfully volleyed the ball into the back of an empty net from just inside the box. This put the Iron in the driving seat.
Chesterfield levelled six minutes later through a goal from Dobra. A ball was lofted into the United penalty area by King and Dobra tried to meet the cross with his head. An Iron defender met the ball at exactly the same time as Dobra and this made the ball break. Dobra reacted quickly and he met the ball on the half-volley. He simply struck the ball goalward and the power beat Dewhurst. There was nothing the Scunthorpe keeper could do as Dobra’s shot was taken close to his goal and he had no time to react.
The hosts tried to press on and grab a second goal but the away side coped well and cleared their lines every time.
From 20-yards-out Dobra tried his luck once more. He cut inside on his right foot and unleashed a strike. It went low and had power but Dewhurst got down to his right and made the save.
In the 36th minute, Andrew Boyce created a big chance for United to get level. He chipped the ball into the Chesterfield penalty area and it made its way to Rowe. He was unmarked but he had his back to goal. He had to improvise and he tried an overhead kick. He didn’t get it right and he didn’t connect with the ball, and the chance had gone.
Wilson was inches away from grabbing a second. He beat his man on the left channel and cut inside on his favoured right foot. The Iron winger wrapped his foot around the ball and he directed it towards the far bottom corner. His effort struck the upright and deflected away from any danger.
In the second minute of first half stoppage time, the hosts took the lead. Asante turned his man inside the Iron penalty area and this allowed him some space. He had time to glance at the goal and pick a spot to place his shot. He chose the bottom-left corner and he powered his shot into the net.
Chesterfield opened the second half and they nearly put themselves two goals to the good. An excellent team move saw the hosts get into the final third and Manderville got himself on the end of a cross which came into the area. It came perfectly to his feet and all he had to do was tap the ball home from six-yards-out. However, he saw his effort fly over the crossbar and it never troubled Dewhurst.
Butterfield attempted to get United level minutes later. Beestin laid the ball off to him on the edge of the box and the former chose to take the shot on first time. He didn’t catch the ball right and the shot blazed over the bar.
Wilson continued to press on to try and get his second goal of the game. He found himself just inside the hosts 18-yard-area once again. He stuck another effort goal ward and it was heading into the far corner. Fitzsimons read the danger and made a smart save down to his left.
In the 59th minute, Boyce had to make a goal saving block to deny Chesterfield taking a two goal lead. Asante found space in the area once again and drilled a shot goal ward. Boyce charged down the shot and threw himself at the ball to divert it over the bar. This crucial block kept the Iron in contention for a positive result.
United continued to try and find an equaliser. As the minutes ticked away more and more pressure was put on the home side.
The Iron kept getting themselves in good positions but they couldn’t capitalise on them. Several crosses were overhit or simply went out of play.
In the 81st minute of the game, the hosts grabbed a third goal and gave themselves some breathing space. King stepped up to take a free kick from around 25-yards-out and he lifted the ball over the Scunthorpe wall and into the top right corner. The precision is what beat Dewhurst. It was a textbook free kick.
Substitute Kabby Tshimanga grabbed a fourth goal for the home side. He drove at the Iron defence and he had to beat his man before unleashing a shot. He turned his man with ease and he cut inside on his left foot and drove a shot into the bottom corner.
CHESTERFIELD: Fitzsimons, Grimes, Mandeville (81’ Uchegbulam), Dobra, Asante (72’ Akinola), King, Palmer, Oldaker, Quigley (76’ Tshimanga), Clements, Jones.
CHESTERFIELD SUBS NOT USED: Williams, Banks.
IRON: Dewhurst, Boyce, Beestin, Rowe, Lavery, Taft, Butterfield (60’ Carver), Wilson (81’ Poulter), Shrimpton, Daniel, Pugh.
IRON SUBS NOT USED: O’Malley, Young, Gallimore.
ATTENDANCE: 7,751 (664 Iron fans).