Report: Banbury United 0-2 Iron

The Iron recorded their first win on the road since August with a convincing performance at Banbury United.

Jacob Butterfield and Connor Smith notched the goals in the first half, as the Iron blew their opponents off the park in the opening 45 minutes before professionally controlling proceedings in the second half to seal all three points.

First team manager Jimmy Dean went with the same starting line-up as the one which drew to Boston United seven days prior, with the weekend encounter at Blyth Spartans falling victim of the weather.

United started brightly, with Reagan Ogle afforded acres of space down the right to advance on two minutes. He clipped in a ball, which was dummied by Danny Whitehall for Connor Smith. His touch almost took him into the area, but the hosts managed to clear.

Soon after, the hosts had the game's first chance on goal as Banbury broke away down the left, with a shot across goal forcing Ross Fitzsimons down to his left to save.

The Iron turned defence into attack in moments with Butterfield cutting onto his left foot and seeing his effort from 20-yards deflected, bouncing into the area before being gathered by the goalkeeper.

The frantic start continued, as on four minutes D’Ath sents in an inviting cross from a free-kick, with Obadeyi meeting the ball, but heading wide of Fitzsimons’ left-hand post.

One minute later, Scunthorpe might have been awarded a penalty with Smith stealing the ball and playing a one-two with Whitehall. Kian Scales overlapped and is dragged and tripped. The referee waved away the penalty claims and awarded a goal kick to Banbury.

The opener would come on seven minutes via Butterfield's right boot. Credit goes to centre-back Will Evans as he streamrolled through three Banbury players, with the loose ball falling to Butterfield, who slammed in another long range effort to give the Iron an early lead.

Scunthorpe were dealt a blow three minutes later when Reagan Ogle landed heavily following an aerial challenge and was forced off with a suspected fractured collarbone. His replacement was Ross Barrows, who seamlessly slotted into the right-back position, and would have an assured performance for the minutes he was on the pitch.

On 16 minutes, Whitehall won an Iron free-kick, which was floated in by Butterfield, with Evans stretching to head the ball towards goal. His effort went just wide of Harding’s left-hand post.

The hosts were perhaps fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men on 18 minutes when Maja flew into a tackle on Scales. The referee was quick to produce a yellow card for the Banbury player.

Banbury goalkeeper Harding was subsequently named man of the match following the game, and the remainder of the half would show why he was the best home player of the night. On 20 minutes, he denied Smith as he weaved into the area from the left before saving low to his left from the shot across goal.

From the subsequent corner, Whitehall was denied by the Puritans' shot stopper from point blank range as Butterfield’s corner dropped in the six-yard box. Harding sprawled at the powerful effort to block.

Harding was the hero again on 23 minutes to deny Smith once more as he got inside the area following sustained pressure. Harding got down low to save the latest effort on goal.

Banbury debutant Dion Kelly-Evans was the latest player to test the referee's views on challenges on Scales. It was another caution from Liam Corbett, the match official, following the latest rash tackle.

If the Iron felt they were unfortunate not to receive a penalty in the opening exchanges of the first half, they were certainly aggrieved on 30 minutes as Law was played the ball inside the box. Having knocked the ball away from the defender before being brought down, it was surprising to see the claims waved away by Corbett.

Butterfield's latest sighter on 34 minutes was blocked following a wave of attacks from the Iron, with the latest forage forward coming from the right involving Barrows and Law.

Two minutes later, Whitehall was denied again by Harding as he saved following a ball through by Scales.

That so far elusive second goal for the Iron was to follow on 39 minutes as Smith was felled outside the box. With free-kick goals netted by Butterfield, Whitehall and Smith so far this season, all three had their eyes lit up by the opportunity. It was Heart of Midlothian winger Smith who stepped up, having netted the Iron's last free-kick, to send the ball into the net to make it five goals in four appearances for the loanee.

United pressed for a third before the interval, and almost got it when Barrows' marauding run down the right resulted in a cross for Whitehall who sent his diving header wide of the mark.

Law could have also added to Scunthorpe's growing tally before half-time when Law checked onto his left foot before seeing his deflected effort shoot narrowly wide of Harding's right-hand post.

In first-half added time, Smith had the side's final chance as he met a through ball perfectly a and looked to round Harding, only for the Puritans' goalkeeper to sprawl at his feet and superbly deny Smith's progress.

The second half began with an upturn in tempo from the home side, but the Iron stood firm to their early advances with Evans and Fitzsimons denying the first two efforts on goal.

Scunthorpe's first chance of the second half came six minutes in when Scales slotted in Smith, who made a superb run. He advanced on goal and looked to lift the ball over Harding, but sent his effort narrowly over the bar.

On 54 minutes, Banbury might have halved the deficit, but Charles fired over the bar from the left side of the area as Banbury broke from a Scunthorpe attack.

Just past the hour mark, Whitehall got on the end of a cross into the area, but sent his header narrowly over the bar.

On 64 minutes, patient build-up from the Iron continued to pay dividents as sighters at goal from Whitehall and Butterfield later saw play spread wide to Barrows. His shot was turned behind.

Seven minutes later, United lost Law to a knock, but it saw the return of Callum Roberts, making his long return from injury. Jack Jenkins also replaced the ever-impressive Butterfield.

With 17 minutes to go, Whitehall thought he'd finally beaten Harding as he slotted home the rebound from a Scales left-footed shot, which was smartly saved onto the post. The assistant referee's flag thwarted a third for Scunthorpe as a tight offside was called.

A couple of long range efforts from Banbury were poorly executed, with two players striking the ground instead of making clean contact with the ball, resulting in Fitzsimons getting two rare touches of the ball.

Another rare sight was a backpass awarded to the Iron as Harding picked up a knock-down from the hosts. Smith teed up a powerful shot from Whitehall, but the effort deflected wide for a corner.

With a couple of last chances for a third, Scales saw his shot blocked in the 89th minute before Whitehall stretched to cue and effort wide in one of the game's last chances.

The Iron's top goalscorer did have one final attempt to score past Harding in added time though as he spotted the Banbury goalkeeper off his line. The 40-yard effort dropped significantly, but just over the crossbar.

That proved to be the final effort on goal, as the Iron took three points back on the road to North Lincolnshire.

IRON: Fitzsimons, Ogle (Barrows, 14'), Evans, Boyce, Clunan, Butterfield (Jenkins, 71), Scales, Smith, Law (Roberts, 71), Denton, Whitehall.

IRON SUBS: Kelly, Wilson.