Report: Iron 0-0 Alfreton Town

After a hard-fought point was secured in midweek against Darlington, the Iron would look to build upon their positive results in recent weeks when facing off against promotion chasers Alfreton Town.

The Reds where no strangers to the Attis Arena, however had never triumphed over United in their previous visits and win for either side could’ve proven crucial in the National League North standings as both outfits were attempting to keep themselves in and amongst the table-topping pack.

Scunthorpe first team manager Andy Butler would make a tactical switch for the encounter with Billy Heath’s Alfreton by reverting to a more defensively sound shape in an attempt to nullify the long ball and long throw threats that the Reds possessed. After securing the services of electric forward Will Harris yesterday, the 24-year-old was selected to lead the United line alongside Mark Beck with Danny Whitehall slotting into an attacking midfield role of which he’s had prior experience. Lastly, central defender Andrew Boyce was inducted back into the starting XI as his aerial ability made him the perfect candidate to handle Alfreton striker Jake Day.

After a change of ends the claxon sounded to get the encounter underway with the Iron attacking toward the Britcon Stand and the Scunthorpe faithful. In the opening minutes of the game Alfreton’s game plan became clear as despite being mere minutes on the clock they set about slowing down play at every opportunity and preventing any momentum being built in the game.

The first chance of a quiet and scrappy opening period came from a corner ball that was swung into the Scunthorpe area by the Reds. The initial danger was swept away to the edge of the area by United where it fell to Adam Lund. With space to let fly Lund arrowed a volley towards Ross Fitzsimons between the Iron’s goalposts and the effort was seemingly flying into the top corner if not for the intervention of Boyce who steered the ball away from goal with a glancing header.

Scunthorpe were struggling to break down their opponents well-drilled defensive unit but proved the system they were playing’s benefit when Will Evans’ long ball forward caught out the Reds' backline. The ball found the run of Danny Whitehall who brilliantly knocked the ball into the run of the debutant Harris in the area who, under immense pressure from a recovering defender, slightly scuffed his volley and sent it into the hands of goalkeeper George Willis.

In what was the final notable opportunity of a lacklustre half, controversy would spark around the Attis Arena as the Iron were denied the opening goal of the game by order of the referee Lewis Dawson. The ball dropped wide of the box to Tyler Denton who instinctively drove a low effort at Willis that should’ve been a comfortable stop for the former Sheffield United goalkeeper until the ball slipped beneath his grasp and appeared to go over the line before he could retrieve it. As Scunthorpe fans began to celebrate their fortunes Dawson dismissed all appeals of a goal.

When the sides returned to the field of play for the second half there was no sign of improvement from either side as the recurring theme of misplaced and uninspiring forward passes continued long into the period.

The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock was a fabulous free-kick effort from Danny Whitehall who after winning the set-piece took it upon himself to try and beat Willis from 20 yards with a lofted effort, the shot brilliantly beat the Alfreton wall and was curling towards the top corner until it wrapped around the wrong side of the post and struck the side netting.

This would be the only chance worth mentioning in the game up until the 88th minute when the visitors created the opportunity they had been working towards. It was former Iron man Billy Fewster who drove in from the left flank and slipped through Lewis Salmon behind the Scunthorpe defence. With Will Evans trying frantically to block Salmon’s shot the winger drove his effort low into the ground until he was excellently denied by the super Fitzsimons to keep the scores level.

Deep into injury time a final chance would present itself to the Iron, but the outcome would perfectly sum up the afternoon’s performance when captain Michael Clunan swung a ball to the far post with a queue of United players ready to head the ball home. Mark Beck was poised to smash the ball home with his head until the ball was stole off his head by his own teammate Maxim Kouogun in his attempt to flick the ball goalwards which made the ball fly wide of the target for a goal kick.

This would signify the game's last action and a disappointing performance from Scunthorpe who, although defended valiantly, rarely looked like getting breaking the 0-0 scoreline.

IRON: Fitzsimons, Kouogun, Evans, Boyce, Clunan, Beestin (Brogan, 83), Whitehall, Beck, Denton, Harris (Williams, 75), Barrows.

IRON SUBS: Nicholson, Kelly, Scales.

ATTENDANCE: 3,545 (96 away)