It was FA Cup action for the Iron this afternoon as they travelled to Northern Premier League side Guiseley for the Third Qualifying Round of the competition.
Scunthorpe were looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season at Scarborough last weekend and against lower league opposition it was the perfect chance for Andy Butler’s side to do that. However, the Lions couldn’t be underestimated on home soil due to the nature of the prestigious competition that often sees regular upsets.
United didn’t go unchanged for the fixture as Butler made three alterations to his side. The first of these changes was between the sticks as shot stopper Maison Campbell continued his run of appearances in the competition in place of Ross Fitzsimons. Secondly, centre-back Max Kouogun dropped onto the bench for the tie as another body was chosen in midfield in the form of academy graduate Fin Shrimpton. Finally, there was a positive for the Iron as striker Danny Whitehall returned from injury to regain his starting spot from fellow forward Cal Roberts.
To begin proceedings at Nethermoor Park a physical battle was set underway as the dry pitch conditions were forcing both teams into a direct encounter that was testing both sides aerial ability.
Scunthorpe started the fixture in better fashion than their hosts and were very hard done by not to find the opener in the game’s early stages. In the first major chance of the tie Guiseley would find themselves picking the ball out of the back of their own net when Alfie Beestin won the challenge with the keeper and smashed the ball home. However, referee Lewis Dawson harshly ruled out the goal for a previous foul on goalkeeper Joe Cracknell.
Another chance would arrive soon after for United as Whitehall was proving key for his side and would be the creator of the opportunity. A delicate one-two from Ross Barrows and Whitehall on the edge of the area allowed the latter to slide a through ball to Beestin in the box who flashed his effort across the face of goal and behind for a goal kick.
Scunthorpe would be made to regret their missed chances from the opening twenty minutes as the home side would find the lead against the run of play. After being awarded a free-kick 25-yards out a hopeful cross to the back post found leaping centre-back Jake Lawlor who rose above his opponent and brilliantly nodded the ball over Campbell and into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
Now the Iron were chasing the game and needed an end product improvement if they were to draw level. Despite this the hosts continued to push forward, and Lawlor forged another chance for himself minutes later. It was another set-piece that caused United problems as a corner to the back post found Lawlor in space who drew a brilliant double save out of Campbell at his near post, the young shot stopper was equal to the initial header and denied the follow up much to his side’s relief.
With half-time approaching rapidly Scunthorpe regained control of possession and began to build towards their required equaliser and would come close to finding it through an ambitious effort from Shrimpton. The ball was leathered into the feet of the midfielder on the edge of the box who touched it ball and stung a ferocious shot at Cracknell that fell just wide of the far post.
This was to be the end of the first-half action, and a vastly improved performance was required if United were going to keep their FA Cup hopes alive.
Early into the second period the tone for the half was being set as Scunthorpe were piling forward in numbers and were finding themselves vulnerable to counterattacks and winger John Lufudu was experiencing all kinds of joy on the break.
Chances were few and far between for both sides in the second period, this was until possibly the best chance of the game presented itself to United. It was a drilled cross into the area that proved fruitful for United as it fell to the feet of Beestin in the area who touched, turned and leathered the ball goalward but was brilliantly denied by Cracknell.
With time spare United were handed a lifeline in the form of an extra man. Guisley captain Lebrun Mbeka attempted to chase Whitehall who had broken in behind, although the striker was facing away from goal Mbeka chose to pounce on him and earn himself a pointless second yellow card and an early shower in the process.
For the remainder of proceedings United were met with all out Guiseley defence and struggled to break them down which was causing the Iron to get more and more frustrated. This frustration turned into desperation but there would be nothing to cheer for the Scunthorpe supporters as the Lions stood firm to claim the win and progress on to the next round of the competition.
IRON: Campbell, Nicholson (Fishburn, 63) Evans, Boyce, Clunan, Beestin, Whitehall, Scales (Roberts, 56), Shrimpton (Brogan, 73), Denton (Kelly, 81), Barrows (Rowley, 84).
IRON SUBS: Fitzsimons, Kouogun.
