The Iron were back in action at the Attis Arena for a Friday night encounter with League Two outfit Chesterfield. The fixture would be United’s last of pre-season and the Spireites were expected to be the most difficult side they’d faced so far and would be a ginormous test.
In regard to team news first-team manager Andy Butler named a full-strength Scunthorpe side. Interestingly left-sided centre-back Brad Nicholson was selected in a slightly different position as he was picked to play as a left wing-back as a slightly more defensive option. Elsewhere, midfielder Joe Rowley was picked to start against his former club alongside workhorse Kian Scales in the heart of the Scunthorpe squad.
The visitors got the game underway and immediately set out to establish their dominance over United. The Spireites would achieve this feet in the form of a stunning early goal, the goal would be scored by attacking midfielder Michael Jacobs, who received the ball in acres of space on the edge of the Scunthorpe area and he wrapped a sublime outside of the boot effort into the top corner with goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons rooted to the spot.
Following the opening goal, the Iron attempted to quickly find an equaliser and began to create several promising chances. The most notable of which came from some neat interplay from as the ball was swiftly knocked down to Scales on the edge of the area who stung a low driven volley towards goal that was easily stopped by goalkeeper Ryan Boot.
Scunthorpe would live to regret this missed opportunity as soon after Chesterfield managed to double their lead courtesy of former Iron player Ryan Colclough. The wide man was calmly slotted into the area by Armando Dobra who rifled an effort into the roof of the net for 2-0.
Scales had started the fixture positively and managed to create another chance for himself from his own hard work. After making a perfectly timed run to meet Danny Whitehall’s progressive pass, Scales broke into the final third and under heavy pressure from Chey Dunkley managed to fire a shot towards Boot that forced the shot stopper into a reaction save down to his left.
Once again, the Spireites would build upon their lead immediately after another squandered golden chance. Colclough this time turned provider as he chopped back and forth before sending a clipped cross across the area and into the feet of Liam Mandeville who had to but tap the ball home for the visitors third.
Now 3-0 down Scunthorpe needed an immediate response and began to step up a gear despite the clear quality their opponents possessed, in the 39th minute the best chance the Iron had yet mustered fell to Danny Whitehall on the edge of the area who sent a powerful effort straight towards Boot who clawed the ball out of mid-air to prevent a perfect goal.
On the stroke of half-time the Chesterfield faithful were celebrating again as their side broke at pace following a halted Iron attack. Colclough slotted Dobra in behind the backline who instinctively picked out veteran forward Will Grigg in the area who touched home and wheeled away in celebration, only for the flag of Ryan Coulson to deny the Spireites of their fourth goal much to the frustration of Grigg.
After the half-time break Scunthorpe appeared a rejuvenated side and started the brighter of the two outfits. In their first forward move of the half the Iron created a well worked opportunity, Whitehall brought down the ball in the Chesterfield final third and managed to slot a timely through ball to Ross Barrows in behind, under a magnitude of pressure and seemingly being fouled he only just managed to squeeze a shot away that failed to trouble Boot between the sticks.
United would remain the more attacking of the two sides throughout the second period, however the visitors were still on the hunt for more goals and their player of the season last campaign (Dobra) was pulling the strings again. The Albanian was chopping and twisting his way through the Scunthorpe defence after a meaningful drive from deep and stung an effort towards Fitzsimons that left the keeper scrambling across the goalmouth to ensure it found the side netting.
As time began to fizzle out, United would provide themselves with their best chance of the evening from the craftmanship of substitute Cal Roberts, the winger would chop inside and whip a scintillating cross to the back post that was met by Whitehall who on full stretch could only knock the ball marginally over the crossbar from close range.
In the closing stages and the final notable action of the game Scunthorpe would again draw a save out of Chesterfield’s trialist goalkeeper as Jason Law came off the bench to chop inside off the right-flank and drive a powerful strike that appeared goal bound if not for the full length stretch of the keeper to palm the ball clear.
This would see the end of the encounter as referee Lewis Dawson condemned Scunthorpe to a 3-0 defeat. Despite the result there were still plenty of positives to take from the fixture as United battled valiantly and created many chances against a strong Chesterfield side who are tipped to be highflying in League Two this season.
IRON XI: Fitzsimons, Nicholson (Kelly, 80), Kouogun (Shrimpton, 80), Evans, Boyce (Roberts, 59), Clunan (Braithwaite, 80), Whitehall (Fishburn, 80), Rowley (Brogan, 59, Ubaezuonu (Beestin, 66), Scales (Law, 80), Barrows (Denton, 59).