United strode to victory at Glanford Park finishing 2-0 victors over the travelling Gloucester City In what was the Iron’s fourth home win in a row.
The Iron welcomed a struggling Tigers outfit to Glanford Park in what was to be the first encounter between the two sides in their history. With the visitors languishing down the lower reaches of the National League North table, United manager Jimmy Dean was looking to extend his side’s unbeaten run to five games.
Dean was forced to make one change from the starting side that dominantly saw off Banbury United 2-0 in midweek, as Scunthorpe’s 2022-23 player of the season Reagan Ogle was forced off the pitch with a shoulder ligaments injury that will see him miss at a minimum the next four-to-six weeks of action. Replacing Ogle was versatile defender Ross Barrows who made his way into the starting XI after thoroughly impressing on Tuesday night. Elsewhere there was positive inclusion for the Iron as defender Maxi Kouogun returned to the squad for the first time since picking up a lengthy injury against Chorley in late October.
After a short silence and service to commemorate the fallen service men and women on Remembrance Day, midfield maestro Jacob Butterfield got the game underway for the Iron. The game’s early stages were incredibly even as both sides saw stages of possession but neither side was able to create or capitalise on any opportunities.
Five minutes into the tie, the Iron got their first sight of goal through Butterfield, who waltzed inside of the area dazzling multiple Tigers defenders with some slick footwork before powering a driven effort across the face of goal that marginally eluded Danny Whitehall’s outstretched boot.
Following more exchanges in possession, Scunthorpe claimed a much-needed lead through Mr Reliable. Vastly experienced midfielder, Butterfield, found himself with space on the edge of the visitors’ area and released a stunning left footed effort that bounced just past the onlooking Zach Jeacock between the Tiger’s posts to make it 1-0.
Now with the advantage, United went immediately on the hunt to extend, primarily creating down the right flank with Barrows more than justifying his place in the starting XI. Following a corner that had been swept away by former Iron defender Ben Richards-Everton, Barrows remained in the final third and was there to receive a pass from Butterfield before being brought down for what seemed a clear-cut penalty. However, referee Helen Conley waved away the claret and blue appeals with a shake of her head.
With the score line still marginal, Gloucester were thoroughly still in with a fighting chance and came their closest to finding an equaliser through captain Joe Hanks. Another familiar face around Glanford Park for the visitors was wing-back Jamie Reckord who floated a delicate free-kick to the back post where the ball landed at the feet of Hanks who bloomed the ball wide of Ross Fitzsimons’ post much to the shot stopper’s relief.
The remainder of the half was that of half-chances with Butterfield carrying on his stellar performance playing the role of orchestrator of his rampant teammates. Free-kicks had been Scunthorpe’s speciality so far this season and attempts from both Connor Smith and Danny Whitehall whistled wide of the goal, despite these attempts the Iron were held to the 1-0 score line going into the half-time break.
With the sides back out, the Iron began the second period of play increasingly brighter than the first and within minutes had almost produced a magnificent second goal through Whitehall and Jason Law combining. Captain Michael Clunan broke away into a dangerous area and released Law in down the right, who brilliantly found Whitehall who somehow missed the target from point blank range.
Whitehall didn’t let his miss affect him, demolishing an effortless penalty less than 5 minutes later. In his last action of the encounter, Butterfield won the spot-kick with an expert run in which he glided past two players before being brought down by Richards-Everton.
With the gap now two goals, Gloucester attempted to return the blow and came very close to do so through Birmingham City loanee Ben Beresford who attained the ball after robbing the ball back high up the pitch, however his swerving effort from range narrowly missed the upright and settled in the seats behind the goal.
With the game dying out, the Tigers appeared to have been playing the better of the two sides but were unable to find a way through the fortified Iron back line. This defensive stability almost led to the game being well and truly finished for Scunthorpe as Kian Scales came inches away from doubling his account for the campaign as he sent a sensational finessed effort flying towards Jeacock’s top corner. The youthful shot stopper was relieved by his far post as the ball cannonballed back into play. Soon after Scales’ misfortune, Conley blew her whistle to signify another victory.
Two moments of Butterfield creative magic separated the two sides on the day with the Tigers fought valiantly but were ultimately mauled and seen off by Dean’s impressive Iron outfit. The result sends Scunthorpe back to the summit of the National League North table.