The Iron were set for their first home midweek fixture in the league this season when they welcomed lower table languishers Rushall Olympic this evening.
The encounter with the Pics was a fantastic opportunity for United to get back to winning ways with head coach Andy Butler firmly focused on ending his sides winless run of as soon as possible and maintaining their position at the summit of the National League North table.
In an attempt to give his team an extra attacking boost on the night, just the single alteration was made form the Scunthorpe team that drew 0-0 with Chester the weekend prior. The change came in the form of youthful striker Sam Fishburn who was inducted into the starting XI for his first league start of the season. The north-east-born forward was picked to start ahead of midfielder Kian Scales who dropped to the bench, this "unlike for like" change allowed striker Alfie Beestin to drop back into midfield to provide that extra creative edge that the Iron had been lacking of late.
The Iron got the game underway at the Attis Arena and set in motion for another magical night under the lights in front of the Scunthorpe faithful. Butler’s side started the game the brighter of the two outfits and were executing their manager's plan excellently with a number of fast-paced attacks with Roberts and Beestin pulling the offensive strings.
The first major chance of proceedings would come ten minutes into the tie from a free-kick in a promising area. Captain Michael Clunan and Roberts stood over the set-piece and the skipper orchestrated a move straight off the training ground with a slotted through ball to Danny Whitehall in the area who flicked it round the corner into the run of Tyler Denton, the pass for Denton was crucially chopped out by Kornell McDonald and the rebound fell to the wide open Clunan who stung a powerful effort goalwards only for it to be skilfully blocked by Nathan Cameron.
The opening goal of the encounter seemed only a matter of time away for the Iron and it would be found mere minutes after the previously mentioned chance. The goal would be crafted brilliantly by Roberts whose direct run from deep caused all manner of problems for the Rushall back-line and allowed him to slide the ball into Whitehall’s disguised run and his low driven shot was fortunately turned past the scrambling Paul White off the outstretched boot of former Scunthorpe man Liam McAlinden.
After the goal United would go in search of an immediate second and would come immensely close to finding it through Whitehall. The striker wriggled away from his marker in the penalty area to meet a Clunan header and directed a powerful effort towards White who was forced into making an exquisite save to keep the scoreline at 1-0.
Despite Scunthorpe’s apparent first-half dominance they were reminded of the quality their opponents possessed when former Tamworth winger Dempsey Arlott-John was slipped through on goal by midfielder Roddy McGlinchey after an excellent solo run. As Arlott-John bared down on goal he was quickly closed down by Ross Fitzsimons who did superbly to deny his opposite by standing firm and facing the shot face on.
After some promising football from United for the remainder of the first half they were again put to the defensive test by their opponents. A loose ball that had cannoned back into play after a defensive block from Will Evans found the charging run of McGlinchey from deep who smashed a dangerous effort on the half-volley at Fitzsimons which the experienced shot stopper plucked out the air with visible ease to bring the half to its end.
When the teams re-emerged from the tunnel for the second period Iron fans wouldn’t have known the exceptional performance they were about to witness.
Scunthorpe would start the half very brightly and in doing so grabbed an almost immediate goal to steady any nerves that came with the 1-0 lead. The goal came from an exquisite piece of offensive play by United and some flashy build-up allowed Ross Barrows to break down the right-hand side. Barrows set himself and sent a pinpoint low cross into the area that was perfectly timed for the emerging run of Beestin on the penalty spot who didn’t think twice before placing the ball into the roof of the net to increase the Iron’s advantage.
Soon after the second goal United were again in search of ways to add to their tally and would again come close from a set-piece. This time it would be a far post corner that would bear fruit as Clunan’s cross directly found the head of Brad Nicholson in the air, who forced another sublime save out of White who sprung down to his right to deny the defender.
As time progressed another goal would be created, and this one would be the best of the night and furthermore one of the goals of the season. It was Roberts who added to his impressive tally for the season as his trickling finish sent the Britcon stand ecstatic for the third time. Roberts was both the creator and the finisher of the attack as he interlinked the progressive play with a number of fascinating one-two’s.
From that point onwards Scunthorpe were in complete cruise control for the remaining 25 minutes and carried on attacking with great intensity. The introduction of Carlton Ubaezuonu to the fray on his return from injury was a huge positive for United as he was a breath of fresh air in attack.
The closest the Iron would come for the remainder of the game to adding to their lead would be several long-ranged strikes from Max Brogan and Ubaezuonu that ultimately were worthy efforts to write home about as they kept White busy as the former Coalville shot stopper was forced into action on multiple occasions.
After this referee Ben Robinson would call and end to proceedings at the Attis Arena and in doing so would secure a vital three points for the Iron who remained at the top of the National League North tree with a game in hand on the teams that trailed.
IRON: Fitzsimons, Nicholson (Boyce, 83), Kouogun, Evans, Clunan, Beestin (Ubaezuonu, 77), Whitehall (Brogan, 66), Roberts (Scales, 72), Fishburn, Denton (Kelly, 67), Barrows.
