The Iron were back home this afternoon for their second home league fixture of the season where they would face promotion hopefuls Chorley.
Scunthorpe came into the encounter with their 100 per cent win rate still intact following their hard-fought victory over Needham Market on Tuesday night and first team manager Andy Butler would’ve been looking for that run to continue against the Magpies.
For the fixture, Butler made two changes to his side that defeated the Marketmen in midweek with firstly midfielder Cal Roberts being called back into the starting XI for Max Brogan, who dropped to the bench. Secondly, after being rested for the previous game wing-back Tyler Denton returned to the line-up on the left flank for Michael Kelly who joined Brogan as member of the alternates. Lastly, some positive news for Scunthorpe as summer addition Carlton Ubaezuonu returned from serving his three-match suspension to face his former club from the substitutes.
The visiting Magpies got the game underway at the Attis Arena and hit United with an onslaught of early pressure, pinning their opponents inside their own half and forcing goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons into a number of early catches and claims.
Once the games chaotic early stages had settled down the Iron began to impose themselves onto the fixture with a magnitude of fast paced attacks that were being expertly crafted by the trickery and attacking intent of Cal Roberts and Alfie Beestin.
One of these attacks would be the closest either side had come to breaking the deadlock in the 25th minute. Beestin retrieved the ball on the half-way line and would go on to drive forward at pace towards the Chorley defence, as the striker entered the area he looked up and checked the ball back to Roberts on the edge of the area who failed to trouble Matt Urwin between the Magpies posts as his shot dragged just wide of the target.
With the game still hanging in the balance, the pendulum would swing in favour of the visitors for a five-minute spell in which they would come immensely close to taking the advantage. It was former Coventry City winger Craig Hewitt who received the ball on the left-flank and whipped a wicked effort at Fitzsimons who somehow managed to tip the ball round the post.
With half-time fast approaching a goal for either side would’ve been crucial going into the break, the Iron would come agonisingly close to finding the opener through Ross Barrows. A floated ball into the area from the right would beat all Chorley efforts to clear and find the head of Barrows in the area and his header was seemingly flying in if not for the intervention of Warren Clarke on the line.
With less than a minute remaining until the break the Iron would finally take the all-important lead at the perfect time. A drop ball on the edge of the area was awarded to Scunthorpe due to a head injury, when the ball was dropped to the feet of Michael Clunan the Iron skipper would waste no time swinging a cross into the area. The ball found a claret and blue body six yards from goal, and it would be nodded into the path of Danny Whitehall in the area who managed to steer his headed effort into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
Following the break, United knew what they had to do in order to maintain their lead and would start by doing exactly that after the restart. Scunthorpe would continue the fast paced build up play that had been on show at times in the first period and would prove this in the opening minutes when Whitehall would find himself Infront of goal again, some swift passing from United allowed Beestin to advance into the box and slot the ball into the path of Whitehall in acres of space, as the Iron’s top scorer opened up to pick his spot he would slip over whilst his curling shot would go marginally over the bar.
As the half progressed, Scunthorpe were doing a tremendous job of preventing their visitors from creating any chances of note and would continue to create opportunities for themselves. Following a number of alterations, one of which, Michael Kelly would venture forward in search of a two-goal cushion. The Scotsman found a bit of fortune when a cross from inside the area landed back at his feet, but he needed no invitation to sting a first-time volley at goal from a tight angle that soared just wide of the upright.
With 85 minutes on the clock a lapse in concentration would allow Chorley to find an equaliser out of seemingly nowhere. After an initial cross was swept away by Will Evans, the Magpies would come back at their opponents and a fortunate bounce on the edge of the box saw possession land at the feet of Bermudan striker Kole Hall who would smash the ball beyond Fitzsimons with a punishing volley.
With the scores level, Chorley would take second chances and would try their best to slow down the pace of the game and see out a very respectable draw. Coming into the game a draw would’ve been an ideal outcome from the fixture, however Butler’s boys would be hard done by on the day as after a spirited performance against a high-quality Chorley side they would be forced to share the spoils.
However, on a positive note Scunthorpe would remain unbeaten and keep their top of the table spot going into a highly anticipated trip North to face strong starters South Shields on Monday night.
IRON: Fitzsimons, Nicholson, Kouogun, Boyce (Evans, 66), Clunan, Beestin, Whitehall (Ubaezuonu, 59), Roberts (Fishburn, 79), Scales, Denton (Kelly, 63), Barrows (Brogan 63).
