Report: Needham Market 0-1 Iron

The Iron were looking to continue their impressive start to the National League North campaign during tonight’s fixture with recently promoted Needham Market, following two successive 3-0 victories pressure was on for first-team manager Andy Butler who would’ve been hoping for a repeat result. The encounter would be United’s first midweek trip under Butler and at that the furthest they would have to travel this season.

In regard to team news Butler made two changes to his starting XI that defeated Marine at the weekend. Firstly, midfielder Max Brogan was inducted into the engine room in place of attacking midfielder Cal Roberts who dropped down to the bench. The other change to the line-up came in the form of left-back Michael Kelly who started on the flank over a rested Tyler Denton who dropped out of the squad for precautionary purposes. It was Jason Law who was named on the bench after a recent absence from the matchday squad.

The Iron got the game underway at Bloomfield's and immediately attempted to introduce their high tempo playing style to their opponents with a flurry of fast-paced attacks in the opening minutes.

One of these mentioned attacks was expertly crafted by joint top scorer Alfie Beestin who broke brilliantly from midfield and began to drive at the Marketmen defensive line. With Brogan the option to his right on the edge of the area, Beestin chose to go alone by checking inside onto his weaker left-foot and he stung a dangerous strike towards goal that was tipped away by the Needham Market goalkeeper. 

The set-piece that followed would also cause defensive issues for the hosts as the deep cross from Kelly wasn’t able to be cleared and in doing so allowed possession to land at the feet of Brad Nicholson in the area, under pressure the left-sided defender could only direct a hooked effort over the crossbar and behind for a goal kick. 

Despite the Iron’s fast paced start the game would descend into chaotic affairs as game began to open up across the pitch. Because of the emerging gaps opportunities to break where presenting themselves to both sides, however neither side were able to make the most of their possession as play continued to turnover.

As play progressed Scunthorpe were always threatening to create chances and it was from a set-piece that the best opportunity of play so far arose. After being brought down on the edge of the area Danny Whitehall stood over a free kick in a promising position. 25-yards out Whitehall strode up and effortlessly clipped an effort towards the Needham Market goal, the strike was superb, and goalkeeper Marcus Garnham could only watch as the shot dipped over him and onto the crossbar as the ball somehow rebounded back into play and was soon cleared.

As the half went on the hosts proved they weren’t afraid to attack United as they flooded forward with hopes of obtaining the first goal of proceedings. Despite the Marketmen’s willingness to create chances they would be few and far between as the Scunthorpe defensive unit prevented any of note with a so far solid display.

As half-time approached Scunthorpe would create their best opportunity and would do so in fantastic fashion. After the ball was initially swept away, Ross Barrows collected possession and played a lovely over the top ball directly into the feet of Max Brogan who ran undetected behind the Needham Market defence and managed to snatch a shot away under immense pressure, however the shot lacked power and ran straight into the welcoming palms of Garnham. 

This would be the final chance of first-half action and Butler would’ve been hoping for a more clinical second period display despite some encouraging opportunities.

After the restart it was fair to say that the hosts started proceedings the brighter of the two outfits by attacking at high intensity down both flanks, however the eventual crosses were lacklustre and comfortably dealt with.

Scunthorpe were able to weather the early storm and in doing so set themselves for their own period of sustained dominance that would continue for the next 15 minutes. 

During this period United would apply great strain to the Needham Market defence and the strike partnership of Beestin and Whitehall were combining often to create chances. A great opportunity presented itself to Scunthorpe in the 51st minute as Beestin brilliantly skipped past his marker and laid the ball off to Kian Scales. Under pressure Scales calmly set the ball to Whitehall in the area who failed to get a clean strike through the ball as it ran into the goalkeepers grasp due to a subtle touch from a recovering defender. 

With play continuing in a slightly scrappy manner, United were made to do their defensive duties on the 70th minute mark. After a failed set-piece routine Scunthorpe were left exposed to a Needham Market counter attack. Record appearance maker Luke Ingram would bring the ball forward at lightning pace for the hosts and managed to take possession all the way into the penalty area, however his low driven effort from the left side was fortunately tipped around the post by Ross Fitzsimons.

Now as the final whistle began to edge closer the game turned into an end-to-end brawl as both teams fought desperately for the equaliser. Scunthorpe had made a medley of substitutions, and it was one of which Cal Roberts who crafted an opportunity from the right-hand side as he chopped in at pace and laid the ball back to Whitehall just inside of the area, after twisting and turning to find a yard of space, Whitehall unleashed a thunderous effort that had Garnham well beaten until the ball once again left the upright reverberating.

The Iron had been incredibly unlucky not to have found the lead in the tie and the travelling supporters would’ve been fearful that the goal wasn’t to come. However, the players on the pitch remained determined to give their fans something to cheer and did so in the 83rd minute when Roberts brilliantly worked his way info the area and was tripped by a Needham defender to earn a penalty. Whitehall confidently collected the ball and after a paused run up clinically gave the keeper the eyes and slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to give his side a much needed and long-awaited lead. 

Despite having the lead over the Marketmen, it most certainly wasn’t job completed for Scunthorpe as for the remainder of play they were forced into all out defence and were tested on multiple occasions. Needham Market were brutally hard done by in additional time as they flooded forward in an attempt to equalise.

With what can only be described as the last sequence of proceedings substitute Jamie McGrath had a golden opportunity as he robbed the ball off Andrew Boyce in the penalty area and he was somehow brilliantly denied by Fitzsimons who dove down to his right to turn away the striker’s low driven effort. From the following corner Scunthorpe were again caught out when Adam Mills rose highest to meet the delivery and knocked the ball onto the crossbar for a fortunate escape for the Iron with the last chance of the game.

Referee Tommy Breen’s whistle would grant Scunthorpe their third consecutive win and although it wasn’t at all pretty it may prove to be a crucial victory over the course of the season. 

IRON: Fitzsimons, Nicholson, Kelly (Law, 78), Kouogun, Boyce, Clunan, Beestin (Rowley, 88), Whitehall (Evans, 84), Brogan (Fishburn, 70), Scales, Barrows (Roberts, 65).