United capped off a solid pre-season with a thrilling 2-1 win over League One side Burton Albion on a warm Saturday afternoon.
The Iron made a few alterations from the side that drew 1-1 on Tuesday night. Ross Fitzsimons was back between the sticks, with a back four of Reagan Ogle, Max Kouogun, Will Evans and Tyler Denton. A midfield three of Michael Clunan, Alfie Beestin, and Kian Scales was paired with a front three of Cameron Wilson, Danny Elliott and Jason Law.
The first chance of the game came in the fifth minute, when Denton’s cross reached Elliott who laid it off to Wilson, whose goal-bound shot was blocked by the Albion defence.
Just two minutes later United thought they had broken the deadlock. Law received the ball out wide, drove into the Burton defence and had a good shot saved by Blackman. Wilson was there to put the ball into the net however the goal was ruled out for offside.
The Brewers were awarded a free kick on the edge of the 18-yard-box following a challenge from Beestin, however the ball was cleared for a corner.
From the corner Albion had a flurry of shots, forcing a good save from Fitzsimons, but the Iron defence held strong.
Scunthorpe had a free kick of there in a similar position, however Blackman claimed the resulting cross comfortably.
And soon after the deadlock was finally broken. A dangerous cross by Beestin troubled the Albion back line, and their clearance bounced off Elliott and trickled into the back of the net with 18 minutes on the clock.
However, Albion had an immediate response by levelling the score. A looping ball found Josh Gordon in behind the Scunthorpe back line and he coolly rolled the ball into the bottom corner just a minute after going behind.
United tried to respond with another goal of their own, however Elliott’s cross was easily claimed by Blackman.
The first yellow card of the game was shown to Scales in the 30th minute when his challenge brought down an advancing Burton player.
Albion was starting to grow into the game. They tried to score from range, however the shots flew well over the bar.
They then had a good chance when a deep cross from a corner reached Sam Hughes at the back post, however his shot went over the crossbar.
Yet again Burton had a glorious chance to get in front. A cross from out wide allowed Thomas Hamer to have an overhead kick on the penalty spot, however it struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced off the line and out for a corner.
Both number fives on the pitch were booked in additional time in the first half after an altercation in the 18-yard-box.
The Iron made a couple changes at half time, with Ross Barrows and Michael Kelly coming on for Ogle and Kouogun.
Albion came rushing out at half time, and had an immediate shot deflected out for a corner.
United had their first big chance of the half in the 52nd minute. A Fitzsimons clearance reached Wilson who, after some clever footwork, played it to Kelly. His shot forced a save from the keeper and went out for an Iron corner.
A couple minutes later the Iron had another shot on goal after a one-two between Scales and Beestin, however Scales’ shot was comfortably saved by Blackman.
It was Scales again who had a promising chance at goal, his shot from afar sailing inches wide of the left post.
Scunthorpe were starting to have more and more chances in the second half. Some more intricate play gave Beestin a chance to shoot from range, his shot narrowly curling over the bar.
Scales yet again kept probing at the Brewers’ back line, forcing another stop from Blackman.
Burton reminded the Iron of their presence upfront. A deep cross from a free kick reached Hughes at the back post again but his header went wide of the right post.
With the introduction of Jacob Butterfield, United were able to play a lot more clever passes on the edge of the box to allow more chances at goal.
And it was that man who put the Iron ahead. A free-kick played short to Kian Scales allowed a one-two between him and Butterfield, who released a shot with his left foot that rockets off the post and into the back of the net with 84 minutes on the clock.
Scunthorpe held well to earn a third pre-season victory.
IRON: Fitzsimons, Ogle (Kelly 46), Kouogun (Barrows 46), Evans, Clunan (Butterfield 74), Beestin (Rance 82), Elliott (Whitehall 63), Wilson, (Shrimpton 68), Scales, Law (Poulter 82), Denton.
IRON SUBS NOT USED: Chapman.
BURTON ALBION: Blackman, Brayford, Seddon, Hughes, Powell, Harper (Gilligan 83), Gordon (Chauke 70), Bennett (Kamwa 70), Moon, Helm (Stockton 57), Hamer.
BURTON ALBION SUBS NOT USED: Kean, Sweeny, Walker, Lakin, Carayol, Caprice, Delap.