The Iron kick-started their Emirates FA Cup campaign with a southbound trip to Stoke based outfit Newcastle Town in what would be the competition's Second Qualifying Round.
Scunthorpe came into the tie with their 100 per cent unbeaten record still intact and would’ve been hoping for it remain that way against the Castle who apply their trade in the Northern Premier League Division One West.
United first team manager Andy Butler decided to heavily rotate his side for the fixture by making seven changes to the starting XI from the weekend prior with some notable additions including midfielder Joe Rowley who recovered from a recent trapped nerve in his back to start his first game of the season. Elsewhere, first starts for the campaign were awarded to hometown hero Fin Shrimpton, versatile midfielder Jason Law, who started at left wing-back, back-up goalkeeper Maison Campbell and finally youthful forward Sam Fishburn.
From the off the pitch set out to be an immediate leveller on the day as a combined mix of dangerous bobbles and incredibly long grass made sure the amount of liquid fast paced football from Scunthorpe was limited.
Chances were few and far between in the games early stages, the Iron were forced into an unfamiliar long ball approach that resulted in the ball spending more time out of play then in.
The first real opportunity was a fortunate one for the visitors as against the run of play they were gifted a chance when Campbell’s lofted pass almost went awfully wrong. Tyler Denton laid the ball back to Campbell in his own area and when the shot stopper attempted to return the favour to Denton, he accidentally sent his pass into the head of Jake Avery whose header went marginally over the crossbar.
Scunthorpe were failing to create any chances of real note other than a headed effort by Fishburn as he rose highest in the area to meet a Ross Barrows cross, however the 20-year-old could only nod his effort past the far post of goalkeeper Joe Slinn.
As the half came to its close United would be punished for their failure to get out of first gear as the hosts would capitalize by taking the lead. After a smart turn on the half-way line Tom Jones had space to run into behind Scunthorpe’s high backline and carried the ball up to the penalty area, the forward would then cross the ball to the back post where Avery was in space to slot the ball into the empty net.
After the break United came out firing in order to find an instantaneous equaliser. After being awarded a corner Rowley would take the set-piece and clip a ball to the back post where Andrew Boyce was waiting to volley an effort goalward that was brilliantly saved by Slinn after a deflection.
Despite being on top of proceedings Scunthorpe were still vulnerable to a counterattack, and this showed when Avery caused problems for the backline again. After skilfully knocking the ball past Boyce, Avery attempted to cross to a teammate but in doing so forced a save out of Maison Campbell and the follow up was fortunately swept away by Denton on the line.
United were beginning to find their rhythm and were creating a manner of chances against the tiring Castle. And one of these opportunities would produce a sensational save from Slinn. Substitute Kian Scales received the ball on the right-side and whipped a scintillating cross onto the head of Fishburn in the area who directed a pinpoint header at the keeper who produced one of the saves of the season to tip it round the post.
The equaliser seemed only a matter of moments away and it finally came when Scunthorpe’s persistence was rewarded through Brad Nicholson’s first touch of the ball. Substitute skipper Michael Clunan stood over a corner and swung it through a crowd of bodies to the back post where Nicholson was waiting to head the ball past the keeper for his first goal for the club.
For the remainder of time, it was all hands to the offensive pump for Scunthorpe as they desperately pushed for a winner. However, the Castle stood firm and shut down the gates with some spirited defending that held United at bay and forced a replay on Tuesday night where Newcastle will travel to the Attis Arena.
THE IRON: Campbell, Evans, Boyce, Beestin, Rowley (Clunan, 58), Fishburn (Whitehall, 84) , Brogan (Scales, 58), Shrimpton, Law (Roberts, 65), Denton, Barrows (Nicholson, 72).
IRON SUBS: Fitzsimons, Kouogun.
