The Iron concluded their regular National League North season this afternoon when they faced off with play-off hopefuls Hereford FC.
The last time Scunthorpe made the trip to Edgar Street they triumphed 5-1 and were hoping for a repeat result given if results went in their favour there would be a slither of hope to still secure automatic promotion.
With regards to Scunthorpe, manager Andy Butler’s team selection for the fixture there was to be a single alteration to the side that defeated Peterborough Sports on Easter Monday. This change would come in the form of forward Danny Whitehall dropping out of the squad through illness, this would open a spot for inform striker Carlton Ubaezuonu to start.
After a change of ends there was to be no sign of nerves from either side in the opening exchanges, a fast tempo start set the tone for proceedings with all indicators pointing towards an entertaining encounter.
The Iron would go closest to opening the scoring within the first five minutes when a perfectly weighted lofted pass from Michael Clunan found Cal Roberts on the right flank. Roberts did what he does best and drove at his man, after skilfully working the ball into a crossing position he would slide a low driven ball towards Joe Rowley in the area who managed to divert the ball on target. However, the effort was somehow swept away from goal via some desperate last ditch defending.
Following this early opportunity United would return to the drawing board and conjure another chance through Roberts mere minutes later. After some impressive interplay to feed Roberts the winger would chop inside onto his left-foot and attempt to fire a shot on target, the effort was arrowing towards the bottom corner but was deflected away from goal and behind by a Hereford body.
As the half continued the Bulls would start to grow into the encounter with a sustained period of pressure that saw them test the defensive solidity of Scunthorpe. However, despite the onslaught of attacks United stood firm and would regain the reins on proceedings prior to the break.
After Tyler Denton’s ludicrous volley attempt skimmed the roof of the net this would be United’s final warning shot to their hosts before taking the lead in the 39th minute. After a fantastic pass from Joe Rowley split the Hereford defence and made its way into Ubaezuonu, the Scunthorpe faithful would rise from their seats as the Irishman bared down on goal, he would open up his body to clinically tuck the ball beneath the onrushing Theo Richardson to make it 1-0.
This would be the final chance of first half action and when the sides returned to the field of play for the second period it had become increasingly clear that if results around them were to remain how they were a strong-willed display was required to secure second spot in the league.
The first opportunity of the new half would fall to the hosts who quickly distributed the ball to the flanks after Richardson caught a Scunthorpe corner. Omari Sterling-James would retrieve Richardson’s pinpoint boot allowing him to drive at Joe Starbuck. After beating Starbuck on the inside Sterling-James would whip a curling strike toward Fitzsimons who produced an important stop to his left that denied the forward.
The Bulls were building grounds for an equaliser and with just over half an hour remaining they would produce a golden chance to equalise through proven goal scorer Remaye Campbell. After marginally breaking the Scunthorpe offside trap Campbell would knock the ball into the open space before him and stride into it confidently. With the recovering Michael Clunan applying pressure on him Campbell would rush his effort and place it wide of the target.
Following this chance the Iron would hit back with a cunning counterattack through Denton. When the ball was laid into the path of Denton to the left of the penalty area, the Scunthorpe man would take a confident touch into the penalty area before hammering the ball at Richardson, the effort had the keeper well beaten and was mere inches away from finding the bottom corner until it cannoned back off the post to keep the scoreline nervy.
With the fixture entering its closing stages Scunthorpe were holding onto their lead and were doing a fantastic job of weathering the storm of crosses into the area with the brothers of destruction Will Evans and Andrew Boyce winning everything in the air.
When Andy Williams’ late flick on fell into the grateful grasp of Fitzsimons from what had been a promising chance at the death, referee Oliver Noonan would signal his whistle for the final time and in doing so booked United what could be an all-important second place finish.
IRON: Fitzsimons, Kelly, Kouogun (Boyce, 73), Evans, Clunan, Beestin (Brogan, 83), Roberts (Fishburn, 90+7), Rowley, Ubaezuonu (Scales, 73), Starbuck, Denton.
IRON UNUSED SUBS: Fadera.
