For the second time in just four days Scunthorpe were set to face Staffordshire-based side Newcastle Town in what would be an FA Cup Second Qualifying Round replay.
The Iron had to strike late to rescue a replay the weekend prior as Brad Nicholson nodded home to cancel out the Castle’s first-half strike from Jake Avery.
United Head coach Andy Butler made seven changes on Saturday and given the result reverted back to an almost full-strength team for tonight’s fixture. Firstly, Nicholson returned to his natural left centre-back position fresh off the back of his first Iron goal as he replaced Tyler Denton who was moved back out to left wing back. Furthermore, Kian Scales was a standout performer for Scunthorpe after coming off the bench and hence was inducted into the heart of the midfield with skipper Michael Clunan and workhorse Fin Shrimpton. Lastly, in a bold selection decision Iron star Cal Roberts was chosen to partner Alfie Beestin up top for the first-time this campaign.
The hosts got the game underway and Butler’s Iron set about imposing their will upon their opponents with a number of fast paced attacks that startled their eighth-tier opponents who were forced into some back to the wall defending.
The first opportunity of proceedings was beautifully created by United. A pinpoint through ball from Roberts found the surging run of Scales inside the penalty area. Scales was one-on-one with goalkeeper Joe Slinn and under immense pressure from the former Port Vale shot stopper disappointingly fired the ball into Slinn’s chest.
In the minutes that followed the Iron would create another promising chance, but Slinn was once again equal to the test when turning behind a deflected Denton cross that seemed destined for bottom corner. Despite only being ten minutes into the tie the opening goal seemed mere minutes away given the early exchanges.
At the weekend Newcastle’s goal came against the run of play and once more they flipped the switch in this encounter as striker Jake Avery crafted a chance for himself by dispossessing a Scunthorpe defender and firing a low finessed shot towards Maison Campbell that the young keeper dealt with comfortably to spare his sides blushes.
Scunthorpe had been made to be patient for the first goal of the evening but would eventually find it more than twenty minutes in. It was Roberts who would get the goal as he finished off a move of his own creation, after battling hard to keep the attack alive Roberts dispossessed a defender and chopped inside from the by line, once he’d worked the ball onto his stronger left foot there was only one thought on the makeshift forward's mind as he lashed the ball around the keeper and into the top corner.
Now 1-0 in front, the Iron were hoping to quickly extend their lead and would do so in quick time. Right-back Ross Barrows was one of the few Scunthorpe players not to have scored this season, however he made no mistake in opening his account for the campaign from in the area as he met a perfect delivery from the left and performed a bullet header that flew past Slinn.
There would be no further chances of note in the first half, but the Castle ended the period positively as they had a sustained period of joy inside the Scunthorpe half that proved to no avail as the Iron backline held firm and prevented their opponents from getting back into the tie.
From the restart Scunthorpe remained intent on adding to their advantage and Butler’s dressing room message was being reiterated on the field as United would almost instantaneously add to their lead through Beestin. From kick-off the striker had spent his time limping due to picking up a knock but would find himself in a yard of space in the area and the ball would fall to him and he smashed the ball home to make it 3-0.
Newcastle required a goal if they were to make the scoreline respectable and came the closest yet through holding midfielder Jack Sheratt who forced a smart save out of his Campbell who denied his opponent in superb fashion by tipping the ball over the bar.
The Iron now regained control over the fixture after that chance and would then further extend their lead with Barrows at the double. The right wing-back created his second of the evening for himself as he robbed a loose pass deep in the Newcastle half and drove into the area before finishing his run in clinical fashion by dispatching the ball past the valiant Slinn.
To end the fixture Scunthorpe would put the game to bed late on as Roberts produced the goal of the evening with an effort that had fantastic finesse. The former Newcastle United man picked up the ball on the right-flank and excellently dispatched his shot round the goalkeeper and into the far corner to book United’s place in the next round of the FA Cup where they will face Northern Premier League side Guiseley.
Referee Benjamin Tomlinson called an end to proceedings soon after and would condemn the Castle’s cup exit, however they were valiant opponents for the Iron and played some nice football across both legs that they will be hoping to carry over into the league.
IRON: Campbell, Nicholson, Evans, Boyce, Clunan, Beestin (Law, 51), Roberts (Brogan, 72), Scales (Rowley, 57), Shrimpton, Denton (Fishburn, 64), Barrows (Kouogun, 76).
IRON UNUSED SUBS: Fitzsimons, Kelly.
