Report: Iron 0-0 Hereford

The Iron were back in home league action nearly a month on from their previous encounter at the Attis Arena as they welcomed Hereford to their stomping ground for a top of the table clash.

The Bulls came into the fixture a point behind the Iron and Paul Caddis’ side would’ve been hoping for a result to propel them up the table. Scunthorpe however were looking to build upon their recently improved form by making it six games unbeaten in all competitions, although the visitors were bound to be worthy opponents for Andy Butler’s United.

In terms of Scunthorpe team news alterations were made to the starting XI that defeated Marine last weekend. Firstly, due to a minor knee injury, left-back Tyler Denton was forced to miss out on the action along with teammate Cal Roberts who was unable to continue his goalscoring form against the Bulls last season due to illness. Meanwhile, Ross Barrows returned to the right-side of defence for the Iron after coming off the bench last weekend and the Rolls Boyce (Andrew Boyce) came back into the starting line-up to replace fellow central defender Will Evans who dropped to the bench. Finally after coming on and making an immediate impact against Marine, Iron bagsman Danny Whitehall returned to the starting squad in attacking midfield to try and provide forward Mark Beck with some creative service.

After a change of ends prior to kick-off the Iron got proceedings underway despite the Bulls best attempt to delay the fixture’s start. Hereford kickstarted the game the better of the two sides with a number of progressive attacks that resulted in some promising set-pieces that were well dealt with by the Scunthorpe defensive unit.

United responded to their early opponents fast paced start with a counterattack for themselves which resulted in the ball ending up in the back of the Hereford goal. It was Whitehall, from his attacking midfield role, who knocked the ball down to his teammate Kian Scales on the edge of the visitor’s area and Scales made no mistake when lashing a low-driven strike into Tom Donaghy’s bottom corner. Before the Iron could even celebrate the referee Luis Griffiths blew his whistle to flag Whitehall as offside keeping the scores level.

Scunthorpe continued to push on for the opening goal in what was a positive period of play for Andy Butler’s side. From a corner of their own there would be another opportunity for the Iron as Michael Clunan’s deep cross evaded all Hereford attempts to clear the ball and found the poised Andrew Boyce who stung a powerful strike marginally over the crossbar.

The Bulls would come back at United following the warning shots they had faced and inform forward Jaiden White took it upon himself to try and put the visitors on top as he scrapped his way through the Scunthorpe defence from the right flank, under pressure to take a shot White looked to wrap an effort around Ross Fitzsimons however the shot was sent curling just around the far post.

As half-time approached the Iron would forge another opportunity but this time through Mark Beck. After receiving a ball that was knocked down to him on the edge of the box, Beck controlled possession with his chest and instinctively stung a volleyed effort towards Donaghy. The soaring strike had the goalkeeper backpedalling before it dropped just over the crossbar.

In what was so far a back-and-forth encounter so far, Hereford would be next to have a shot on goal that would result in being the closest that either side had come to breaking the deadlock. It was Yusifu Ceesay that caused the Iron defence problems as he chopped inside and unleashed an outrageous whipped effort towards Fitzsimons who denied the Spanish Winger with a fantastic diving save that allowed him to flick the ball onto the crossbar and away from goal.

On the stroke of half-time United would again come close to taking the lead, if Will Harris’s ambitious touch and shot had found the back of the net then then the forward would’ve surely entered himself into the goal of the season conversation after he brought down a long winded forward pass with a brilliant touch and struck a powerful at Donaghy, the effort caught the keeper off guard and forced him Into a fantastic recovery save to deny Harris of his first goal for the club.

When the teams returned from the half-time break the Iron were attacking the AMS Stand and, despite some positive early signs, the Bulls would again take hold of the game in the early stages and experience some joy from set-pieces. It was a recycled corner that allowed Hereford to continue to build their attack. When the ball was fizzed back into the box a fantastic touch from Tate Campbell allowed him to open the space and drive a low effort at Fitzsimons who sprung to life again to deny his opponent.

As the game progressed it was becoming obvious that the Bulls were beginning to tire and this opened the door for United to push forward to try and break the deadlock. A brilliant chance would present itself on 60 minutes from another Clunan cross as the midfielder’s hopeful in-swinger found Carlton Ubaezuonu in the centre of the box who could only direct the ball goalward and into the palms of Tom Donaghey.

With 20 minutes remaining for either side to take the lead it was the Iron who would come closest after substitute Alfie Beestin’s driving run forward. Beestin had been electric since his introduction and when he collected possession on the halfway line he stormed forward with a fantastic run before sending a shot goalward that seemed destined for the bottom corner until Donaghy denied him with a sensational diving stop that diffused the situation.

In the final minutes of the encounter United would again rely on Beestin to drive the forward into a promising area, as the winger chopped inside from the channel replays of last year’s screamer against Hereford came to mind as he lined up a long-ranged shot from 25 yards. The eventual strike was sent soaring towards the target until it continued to rise just over the crossbar and settled in the stand in what was the game’s final notable action.

IRON: Fitzsimons, Kelly, Kouogun, Boyce, Clunan, Whitehall (Rowley, 69), Brogan (Ubaezuonu, 51), Beck, Scales, Harris (Beestin, 59), Barrows.

IRON UNUSED SUBS: Nicholson, Evans.