The Iron returned to the Attis Arena for what would be their final home league game for over a month when they welcomed lower table languishers Warrington Town who were no strangers to turning over promotion contender after their narrow victory over Kidderminster Harriers a few weeks prior.
Consistency will be key in United’s push for National League North promotion and first team manager Andy Butler would’ve been grateful that he had the fortune of being able to select the same XI for the second consecutive fixture as Scunthorpe remained unaltered for the tie. On the substitute’s bench however, there was one alteration as striker Carlton Ubaezuonu was forced out of the matchday squad with a minor groin injury.
From the off the Iron began to impose themselves on to their opponents with a number of fast paced and high tempo attacks that startled the Yellows. The most promising of these chances would be a break down the right-flank as the ball was knocked into the feet of Alfie Beestin in the area who calmly flicked the ball to Kian Scales who fired a low driven effort at goalkeeper Dan Atherton who turned the ball behind for a corner.
A further opportunity for Scales would present itself mere minutes later as this time Beestin’s strike partner Whitehall would play provider as he managed to collect the ball at the by line and lay the ball back to Scales on the left-side of the penalty area and the midfielder smashed an effort towards Atherton who superbly sprung down to deny the shots entry.
After a sustained period of pressure from Warrington that failed to amount to anything, Scunthorpe would go in search of an opener and very nearly found it through the workhorse Scales again. In an almost carbon copy of his goal against Kidderminster a week ago, Roberts picked up the ball in the middle of the park and glided through countless Yellow shirts, after looking up he would slot a pass past the Warrington right-back to find Scales in an acre of space, with just the keeper to beat the ball got caught beneath his feet and Atherton would deny a certain goal with a splendid reaction save.
As half-time approached chances for both sides were a plenty and the visitors were also progressively growing into the tie. Goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons hadn’t had a lot to do of late but would be called into actions on a number of occasions in the first half. However, it would be the outside of the far post that would spare Scunthorpe’s blushes on the stroke of half-time as Yellows captain Bohan Dixon would earn himself a yard of space on the edge of the box and sting a ferocious effort through a crowd of bodies that had Fitzsimons planted and would’ve been flying in if not for the post’s intervention.
So far this campaign Scunthorpe have played their best football in the 10 minutes that follow half-time and often taken the lead in games in this period and today would be no different.
In an attempt to swiftly break away from the Warrington defence Roberts and Beestin would sublimely link up on the right-wing to create an opportunity as Beestin stung a scintillating cross across the face of goal that was set to be smashed into the vacant goal by Danny Whitehall, however centre-back Evan Gumbs in a desperate attempt to clear the ball accidentally flicked the ball in to give United the lead.
Following the goal, Scunthorpe would’ve hoped to push on to add to their, however the visitors would instantly begin to apply pressure to the United defensive line and would reap the rewards in the 55th minute. On the left-hand side, Andrew White collected possession and would proceed to whip a pinpoint delivery into the area that found the head of winger Joe Rodwell-Grant who powerfully nodded the ball beyond Fitzsimons to deny United of a fourth consecutive clean sheet.
Next up, all-out attack from Scunthorpe would be seen for the remainder of proceedings as the hunt for the match winner began. Despite wave after wave of steaming attack the scores seemed to be destined to remain level.
The Iron were creating some serious opportunities hopes were growing when Whitehall and Ross Barrows beautifully combined in the area to play a sensational one-two and allowed Barrows to steam into the box and fire a volley straight at the goalkeeper from close range.
After late drama of a dismissed penalty shout for Scunthorpe late on, six minutes of additional time were applied by the fourth official and chaos would ensue. United began to throw bodies forward for the winner and had Yellow backs against the wall, with essentially the last attack of the game captain Michael Clunan would take a corner quickly and clip a delicate cross to the back post that had the Warrington defence scrambling, the ball would land on the unmarked head of Danny Whitehall at the back post who brilliantly headed the ball back toward Atherton, the former Liverpool keeper would deny Whitehall with one of the most sensational saves to tip the ball onto the crossbar and preserve a draw for the visitors.
Despite not claiming all three points on the afternoon it was still a positive performance at times for the Iron and most importantly they remained at the summit of the National League North table with their unbeaten run intact.
IRON: Fitzsimons, Nicholson, Kouogun (Fishburn, 81), Evans, Clunan, Beestin, Whitehall, Roberts (Brogan, 90+1), Scales (Law, 61), Denton, Barrows.
IRON SUBS: Boyce, Shrimpton.
