A week on from United’s latest victory over Southport in the National league North they would return to action by making the relatively short journey over to Greater Manchester where they would face the relegation threatened Radcliffe FC.
The last time that United met the Boro was back in November when a lack of goals resulted in a 0-0 stalemate, however Scunthorpe were hoping to go a step further this afternoon as a win would further solidify their place in the hunt for promotion.
With regards to Andy Butler’s squad for the match there was to be no changes to the side that triumphed last time out at the Attis Arena, with hopes that an identical line-up and bench could produce an equally professional performance.
When proceedings were finally set underway at the Neuven Stadium it became instantly apparent that the fixture was to be an intense battle as possession changed hands on multiple occasions.
With both sides attempting to figure each other out in the early exchanges it would be the Iron who tested their oppositions defence for the first time. The fixture's opening chance would come from a free-kick that was positioned central to Mateusz Hewelt’s goal making it hard angle for Cal Roberts to score from. Despite this, Roberts stepped up to the plate and attempted to wrap an effort across Hewelt, however as the shot arrowed towards the top corner it would ricochet back off the underside of the crossbar before being desperately hooked away by a Radcliffe defender.
Throughout the opening 20 minutes Scunthorpe would have the majority of promising attacks, however it has to be said that it was the hosts who controlled the majority of possession up until Roberts turned the screw to spur United on towards the opening goal.
After Alfie Beestin failed to convert a chance from a promising position, he would win a corner to push the Iron up the pitch. From this set-play Roberts would play a neat short routine with Kian Scales to present him with an angle to cross. Roberts’ delivery was pinpoint as Carlton Ubaezuonu parted the Radcliffe defence, steaming onto the cross before powerfully nodding the ball beyond Hewelt to give Scunthorpe the lead. Or so the travelling faithful thought as their celebrations would be cut short by the whistle of referee Chay Hathaway who pulled play back for a prior foul in the build-up.
With half-time approaching the Boro would create their best chance to open the scoring when talisman striker Jordan Hulme picked up the ball on the edge of the Scunthorpe penalty area and placed it into the path of midfielder George Glendon who attempted to place the ball into the top corner of Ross Fitzsimons’ goal, however his side footed effort was always rising and cleared the crossbar from a good opportunity.
In what was the final opportunity of the first period United would attempt to break through the Radcliffe blockade with a swiftly constructed attack. After Beestin did the hard work to release Ubaezuonu through the middle the Irishman opted to shift the ball into Roberts on the left, with time and space to pull the trigger the winger attempted to drive the ball beyond the goalkeeper, but the shot lacked execution as it soared wide of the mark.
Following the restart the Iron would go back to work trying to break down their strong-willed opponents and almost did so instantly when Ubaezuonu was played in behind with nothing but open space to explore. As the inform striker carried on his marauding into the penalty area, he set himself to pull the trigger but found the ball hooked away from him courtesy of a crucial recovery tackle from a Radcliffe defender.
As the half progressed both sides continued to play exceptionally well, however couldn’t manage to break down their opposite defence and at that failed to create any chances of note resulting in the odds of the tie remaining a stalemate rise rapidly.
This would remain the theme of the second half until the 75th minute when the Polish shot stopper Hewelt would be called into action to rescue his side. After a long hopeful ball into the box from Tyler Denton was expertly knocked down by Mark Beck. This allowed possession to land at the feet of Roberts on the edge whose low driven volley was destined for the bottom corner if not for the intervention of the keeper who leapt to his right to deny the winger of a brilliant strike.
With the game at its death and United pushing toward an all-important winner they would leave themselves open to a Radcliffe counterattack down the right-flank. After protecting the ball in the corner Defender Rick Smith managed to hang the ball up towards the far post with a brilliant cross that found the head of Matty Sargent in the penalty area, as the Radcliffe man powered the ball past Fitzsimons to give his team the lead.
There would be no further twists to the tale in the minutes that followed as the Iron were condemned to a disappointing defeat in a game, they neither deserved to win or lose. Despite the result Butler’s side still remain top of the National League North tree with four massive games remaining.
IRON: Fitzsimons, Kelly, Kouogun, Evans, Clunan, Beestin, Roberts, Rowley (Beck, 75), Ubaezuonu (Fadera, 64), Scales, Denton
IRON SUBS: Campbell, Boyce, Starbuck
