The Iron returned to league action this afternoon when they made their third longest away trip of the National League North season to face off against the relegation threatened Oxford City.
United came into the encounter in fine form having lost just one game in the previous three months whereas their opponents were in desperate need of a victory to help carry themselves away from the division’s basement battle.
For the encounter with the Hoops there was to be one alteration to the Scunthorpe side that defeated Scarborough Athletic last weekend and it was a forced change at that. Due to centre-half Andrew Boyce picking up his tenth caution of the campaign against the Seadogs, he began his two-game suspended sentence on the afternoon with man mountain Will Evans coming in at the heart of the Iron defence, replacing the ever-consistent Rolls Boyce.
In the early exchanges at the MGroup Stadium the hosts put the Iron under an onslaught of early pressure, using the familiar 4G surface to their advantage by zipping the ball about with a mix of serious attacking intent and crisp forward passing.
Despite Oxford having the majority of early possession it wouldn’t take long for United to create the first opportunity of the game courtesy of a direct switch of play from Tyler Denton. The full-back’s long ball was perfectly struck to find the run of Cal Roberts in behind the Hoops defence who took the ball in his stride and closed in on the goalkeeper. After a clever touch to take the ball around onrushing Laurie Walker, Roberts opted not to pull the trigger and instead tried to present Alfie Beestin with an easy finish, however a recovering Oxford defender intercepted the pass before Beestin could pull the trigger.
Following this chance Scunthorpe would mount a charge for the opening goal of the afternoon. After some patient possession-based play of their own the visitors would win a free-kick in a wide area. Roberts’ eventual delivery found his intended target of Evans at the back post, the defender nodded the ball across goal towards Mark Beck who was left wishing he was two inches taller as he only managed to get minimal contact on the ball and steer a headed effort into the welcoming grasp of Walker.
As the half progressed nor the Iron or the Hoops were able to take hold of the game and as a result possession was turning over on a regular basis due to a lack of quality in the fixture. This theme would continue until the periods closing stages when Scunthorpe would create a promising chance through a fast-paced counterattack.
When Fitzsimons caught a Oxford cross and dispatched Roberts with an unbelievable half-volley pass that caught their opponents off guard. After retrieving the ball under pressure, the winger chopped the ball onto his right-foot and picked out Beck on the edge of the area, the target man unbelievably brought it under his spell with an experienced touch that allowed him to spin and fire a powerful volley at goal that flew a whisker over the crossbar.
In the last action of the first half there was to be a chance for the hosts to take the lead against the run of play. It was some extraordinary forward running from striker Jayden Carbon that allowed him to take the ball down the right-flank and to the by line. After raising his head to see the disguised run of Alfie Potter in the penalty area, Carbon slotted the ball into the former Oxford United man who snatched at his effort with a poor touch that allowed Will Evans to hook the ball clear, much to the relief of the travelling Iron.
When the teams returned to the field of play for the second half there seemed to be a newfound sense of urgency from United as they set about breaking down their opponents almost immediately.
With Beestin now operating a second striker role off the shoulder of Beck, the Iron were enjoying a much more dominant approach. It was this link up that called Walker into action mere minutes into the half when Beck teed up Beestin 25-yards from goal. After a touch to settle himself and space to shoot from range, the forward stung a dangerous dipping effort at Walker that stung the shot stoppers palms and went behind for a corner ball.
Following this chance Beestin would again be handed a chance to claim the first goal of the fixture when he was slotted in behind the Hoops defence by Kian Scales. With recovering defenders surrounding him and just the keeper to beat Beestin was forced to rush the best chance of the game and sent his effort crashing into chest of Walker who denied the shot with relative ease.
After a number of attack minded substitutions from both teams to try and bring the game to life including a debut for the Iron’s most recent loan signing Chris Wreh who was introduced to the Scunthorpe faithful with his new side desperate for a winner.
With over 80 minutes gone in the fixture the hosts would remind the Iron of their attacking presence through the substitute Chi Ezonnolim who burst down the left-hand side and whipped a fantastic curling cross to the back post that evaded the run of Tom Scott at the back post and was nervously swept behind by Denton to diffuse a promising chance for Oxford.
As the clock ticked on it appeared only a matter of time until the referee Lewis Smith sounded his whistle for the final time of the afternoon. In additional time Scunthorpe would come close to being rewarded for a dogged and hard-working performance when Wreh received the ball on the edge of the area from Roberts. After successfully shaping himself up for a shot the former Hartlepool man attempted to whip the ball into the bottom corner, the effort was caught sweetly but was clawed away superbly by the fully stretched Walker to deny the Iron of all three points, proving that it wasn’t to be on the day.
IRON: Fitzsimons, Kouogun, Evans, Clunan, Beestin (Wreh, 71), Roberts, Rowley, Beck ( Fadera, 64), Scales (Ubaezuonu, 60), Denton, Rose.
IRON SUBS: Kelly, Starbuck.
