The Iron were looking to bounce straight back to winning ways this afternoon as they hosted an in-form Buxton side who were being brought into battle by former Mickleover Sports manager John McGrath.
Scunthorpe came into the tie with their unbeaten home record still intact and would’ve been hoping to extend it against the Bucks to strengthen their position at the summit of the National League North table.
First-team manager Andy Butler made just a single change to the starting XI from the midweek fixture against Spennymoor Town. The alteration would be a major positive for United as joint top goal scorer Danny Whitehall’s recent return from a hamstring injury allowed him to partner fellow frontman Carlton Ubaezuonu at the head of the Scunthorpe attack.
After a short remembrance service prior to kick-off the visiting Bucks got the game underway and set a fast-paced tempo onto the fixture between two well-drilled full-time outfits.
Scunthorpe started proceedings the more positive of the two sides by making early advances into opposition territory that included a promising corner. On the back of receiving his player of the month award for October, Cal Roberts stood over the set-piece and whipped a delicious ball into the area that was met by aerial threat Andrew Boyce who flicked a fantastic header to the back post where it went narrowly wide.
The Bucks first chance of the game would come fifteen minutes into the fixture when electric forward Josh Popoola picked up a loose ball 20 yards from goal and instinctively stung an effort at goal, the low-driven shot went soaring past goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons, however it nestled just wide of the target.
Buxton were now growing into the tie and at that would go on to take the lead on the half hour mark through Leeds United loanee Cian Coleman who would give his side the lead from close range. It was a lofted cross to the back post that created the chance, left-back Josh Williams was there to meet the ball at the far stick and smash a low volley at Fitzsimons who could only direct his save back into the path of Coleman who had an easy finish.
This would be the first-time Scunthorpe had gone behind on home turf this season, however they wouldn’t be down heartened and showed immediate resilience to find an equaliser less than five minutes later. It was Roberts again causing problems with his set-piece deliveries as his perfectly placed cross from 25 yards found the untraced run of Maxim Kouogun in the penalty area, Kouogun’s leap was exceptional, and his header followed suit as it dropped over the routed Buxton goalkeeper and into the bottom corner to level the scores.
With the half-time break fast approaching the game would begin to open up as both teams pushed to go Infront. It was the Bucks who would come the closest through a Ben Sault header. Right wing-back Jack Stobbs would peel away down the flank and whip a dangerous ball into the box, the cross would just evade the attempted clearance of Kouogun and fall kindly to Sault who’s headed effort lacked the power to be Fitzsimons who batted the ball away calmly.
The half-time whistle would soon follow to bring an end to a competitive first period. There would be a delay in the restart due to a Buxton player not emerging for a tunnel but United would get straight to work breaking down their opponents who would be forced into some valiant defending straight from kick-off.
An early chance would present itself to the hosts as Ubaezuonu’s relentless running continued to prove too much for the Bucks as he was dispatched in behind by Roberts’s skilful pass. Under pressure from a recovering defender Ubaezuonu steadied himself and smashed an ambitious effort at goalkeeper True Grant that rippled the side netting on its way behind for a goal kick.
With 65 minutes on the clock the Iron’s momentum would be abruptly halted by the visitors who regained their lead from a set-piece of their own. A corner ball was swung into the centre of the area where Coleman was waiting to double his tally for the afternoon with an unbelievably free header.
Now behind again Scunthorpe were again in desperate search of an equaliser and would leave themselves open for the Bucks to come forward again. If there was anyone to score a third for the away side, it would be Coleman who would claim his the match ball with a devastating finish after he weaved his way through the United defence from the edge of the box and tucked the ball into the bottom corner.
For the remainder of play it was nothing but all-out attack for the for the Iron who flooded forward with desire to somehow find a way back into the fixture. As chances came and went for United who seemed to be squandering what little they could create it became increasingly obvious of the outcome that was set to follow.
Deep into additional time there was a flicker of hope restored for Butler’s boys as Roberts’s added to his impressive tally for the season with a tap in from the goal line when he turned in a knock down by Brad Nicholson to reduce the deficit to one goal.
With the game mere minutes from its close the Iron had their one and only chance to equalise through Whitehall at the far post. Roberts did well to create the chance when he broke down the channel and checked back onto his strong foot to whip a cross into the area, the ball as so often from Roberts was accurate and found Whitehall who had the perfect chance to draw level but put his header straight at Grant to condemn United to a disappointing defeat.
IRON: Fitzsimons, Nicholson, Kouogun, Boyce (Kelly, 73), Clunan (Brogan, 73), Beestin, Whitehall, Roberts, Ubaezuonu (Fishburn, 73), Denton, Barrows (Scales, 75).
IRON UNUSED SUB: Shrimpton.
