Coming into this evening’s fixture against Tamworth, keen to end a run of three games without a win, the Iron would be looking to put the Lambs to the slaughter at the Attis Arena and, in doing so, restore their extended gap inside the play-offs.
Tamworth entered the encounter on a barren run of form of their own, looking to avenge the opening-day fixture between the two outfits, which saw United come out on top.
With regards to Scunthorpe’s team news for the fixture, there was to be just one change to the starting XI. Following a first goal of the season last time out in the league, forward Carlton Ubaezuonu dropped to the alternates, subsequently being replaced by midfielder Kian Scales, in what was a positional tweak from Scunthorpe that saw Alfie Beestin operate in a wider role. Elsewhere, positive news for Scunthorpe as star duo Callum Roberts and Oli Ewing were deemed fit enough to be available from the bench.
When proceedings were kick-started by the visitors, Scunthorpe would begin the game positively, advancing through the thirds and forcing Andy Peaks’ Lambs into some early defending, heading crosses clear of the area left, right and centre to keep the scores level.
Whenever Tamworth did get possession in the early exchanges, they would be pressed high by the Iron front three, and when Ty Sellars-Fleming robbed the ball from Kennedy Digie in a promising position, the Hull City loanee would surge into the penalty area for the game’s first real opportunity, sliding the ball into the path of Kian Scales who managed to fire a shot towards goal on the turn although it would be blocked by a recovering defender.
The fixtures’ next action would come on 27 minutes when the visitors would take the lead from seemingly nowhere. With just one lofted pass, the Lambs were away down the right-hand side, and it was Tyler Roberts who swung his cross into the area, with the initial shot being completely missed by Dan Creaney before hitting the unassuming Joe Starbuck, causing the ball to trickle into the net for 1-0.
Despite finding themselves behind in the encounter, it wouldn’t take long for Scunthorpe to get the goal they probably deserved with Sellars-Fleming rewarded for his attacking persistence. It was Zain Westbrooke who provided the assist for Sellars-Fleming, dinking a delicious through ball over the top of the Tamworth defence, leaving the Iron academy product to touch the ball beyond the onrushing Jaz Singh and place it into the bottom corner for the equaliser.
With United finishing the first period on level terms but in control of proceedings, Butler’s side would go into the second period looking to find the advantage as quickly as possible, with their odds of doing so aided by the half-time introduction of Roberts.
A fast-paced start to the second period from Scunthorpe would earn them a flurry of early corners, with one of which resulting in a huge chance for the hosts to take the lead. A fantastic cross to the near post from Roberts would perfectly find the head of Branden Horton, who beat the goalkeeper to the ball and would’ve surely powered the ball home if not for the intervention of Dan Creaney on the line, who quite clearly used his hand to bat the ball off the goal line although somehow referee James Westgate would allow play to go on.
Following this unbelievable event, the Iron would have to try and dust themselves off and go again, although the visitors would find some sort of momentum at the other end of the pitch, coming close on several occasions, including Tyler Roberts’ powerful drive from 20 yards that nestled just wide of the target.
With Scunthorpe making multiple changes to try and impact the outcome of the game, Declan Howe would have an almost instant chance to change the tie from the bench when his weaving run into the Tamworth penalty area somehow saw him break free of defenders and fire the ball towards the bottom corner, forcing Singh to get low and produce a strong stop down to his right.
With 15 minutes remaining, the Iron would finally make the breakthrough they desired. A well-worked move that saw Westbrooke glide into the penalty area allowed the Doncaster Rovers loanee to cross the ball along the six-yard line, with the cross bundled home by a combination of Howe and Carlton Ubaezuonu, although the latter would take the credit.
2-1 up and still hungry for more, Scunthorpe wouldn’t be done, there was still a task very much at hand, although the game would be killed off mere minutes after the second when Roberts chopped inside from the right and finessed a spectacular effort towards the top corner, as the ball crashed off the post agonisingly close from going in, the rebound would drop kindly for Ubaezuonu who flicked the ball home for a much needed two goal cushion.
With the game in its closing stages and Tamworth seemingly admitting defeat, another chance would arise for United this time from the penalty spot when Ross Barrows was fouled inside the area, giving Carlton the chance to claim his hat-trick from twelve yards. Stepping up to take the spot kick, Ubaezuonu would see his shot denied by Singh, who sprang to his right to parry the ball away from the target.
Despite the seven minutes of additional time, there would be no further chances of any note to end the fixture with Scunthorpe seeing out the 3-1 result, a vital victory as the Iron extended their gap to 8th place Hartlepool by an impressive seven points.
IRON: Mahady, Horton, Belehouan (Ubaezuonu, 71), Boyce, Beestin, Rowley (Roberts 45), Sellars-Fleming (Barrows, 71), Scales (Ewing, 64), Starbuck (Howe, 64), Westbrooke, Denton.
IRON UNUSED SUBS: Jones, Chadwick.
ATTENDANCE: 3,935 (99 away)
REFEREE: James Westgate
