In the first ever Iron Aid football match the Legend's XI came away with a 7-5 victory over the Fans' XI despite the latter’s valiant efforts.
As part of Scunthorpe United’s Open Day, the celebrations would be concluded with a match that had been dubbed as Iron Aid. The fixture would take place on the Attis Arena turf and would be a contest between club legends and club supporters.
It would be all-time record goal scorer Steve Cammack to get the game underway for the Legend's XI, wearing a special jersey that had the number 110 on the back as a reminder of how many league goals he scored for the club.
Almost immediately, the Legend's side, managed by former manager Brian Laws, set off controlling proceedings, however the Fans' XI stood firm and met their opponents head on despite the humongous difference in experience.
It wouldn’t take long for the Legends to break the deadlock in the fixture as the ball found its way into the feet of former striker Jamie Forrester within the 18-yard box. He made no mistake when slotting the ball beyond the Fans' goalkeeper and into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
Now the Legends were in free-flow and complete control of the fixture. There were no surprised faces in the ground when Forrester was rolling back the years with his second of the afternoon just seven minutes after the first. A loose ball cannoned off a defender and dropped to Forrester on the edge of the area who rocketed an effort into the same corner as before to double his team’s lead.
The Fans' XI would continue to apply pressure to their opponents despite the scoreline, however this would leave them vulnerable in defence, and when they initially believed they had cleared a corner kick, the ball would find its way back to Grant McCann who waved his wand of a left foot to tee a perfect cross up for Cliff Byrne in the area who nodded the ball beyond the keeper to make it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time.
The score would remain this way until the break and based off the games current trajectory it seemed that the Legends would have a landslide victory by the end.
When proceedings were resumed by referee James Moody, nobody in the stadium would have anticipated the goal fest that was soon to follow despite what happened in the first minute of play. The Legends XI would begin picking up from where they left off as the blistering pace and skills of Cleveland Taylor proved too much for the Fans' XI when he magnificently teed up Steve Torpey in the area who rifled a volley into the top corner from close range.
The Legends were proving the skills on the field as they showed no mercy to their opponents by continuing to add to their lead. This time it would be left-back Lee Ridley’s turn to get on the scoresheet as he calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner after a well worked passing move to make it 6-0.
Still with plenty of minutes to spare in the encounter the Fans XI were in need of an immediate answer to their opponents sixth and it came in the most peculiar fashion. The Legends side were in the midst of making a change between the sticks as club physio Ciaran Pack entered the field to replace goalkeeping coach Paul Musselwhite. Before Pack could even set himself, he saw a shot flying over his head that had come straight from kick off and in the confusion that followed the goal was awarded by Moody giving the Fans' XI hope.
Soon after, the Legends would be made to work again and now found themselves on the back foot in the tie despite the score-line. Entertainment was happening across the pitch with even winger Peter Beagrie starting a song and performing for the crowd. More entertainment was happening on the pitch however as a member of the Fans' XI scored a fantastic goal to reduce the deficit to 6-2. The goal came from down the left-flank as the number 7 chopped inside and wrapped a superb effort round Pack and into the far corner.
Now with the scoreline reduced another Legends goal was required to restore order to the fixture, and it was found through former wide man Gary McSheffrey who was ruthless in the penalty area whilst lashing a close ranged volley past the goalkeeper and into the roof of the net.
Despite the scoreline, by no means was the game over and done with after that Legends goal as the fans proceeded to show their passion and made the most of sneaking extra players onto the pitch and their now eight player advantage. The fans were crafting some lovely moves and continued this theme when their Number 9 was beautifully threaded in behind and managed to slot the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper to make the score 7-3.
As time was running out in the fixture, some beautiful moments would ensue for the Fans' team as firstly after some great pressing, Annette Mapping would be allowed to nip in front of the covering defender and tap the ball home to again reduce the Legends lead.
As well as this a mysterious goal would occur for the Fans as they would be awarded a fourth of the game after a shot that was going behind for a goal kick was redirected in by legendary supporter Jerry Mahoney who wheeled away in celebration despite his blatant offside.
This goal from Jerry would see the end of an equally magnificent game and event as the final whistle would soon follow. After the game the players and their families accumulated at the tunnel in order to take pictures with fellow supporters in what was a lovely moment for all in attendance.
