For the Iron’s second game of their 2025-26 pre-season campaign they would make the trip to another local club for a midweek encounter with Appleby Frodingham.
Following last week’s victory over Bottesford Town Andy Butler’s Iron were sure to be hungry to build on that initial win and set up with same aspirations and a similar set up.
In the early exchanges the Iron set about breaking down their opponents with a constant flux of fast paced attacks that the hosts quite frankly couldn’t deal with. Danny Whitehall was at the centre of the Scunthorpe attacks and tested the Frod goalkeeper early on with a number of ambitious shots that were pushed away from the target.
Within the opening 10 minutes United would have an early goal chalked off for offside. It was the link-up that everyone had been waiting to see that set up the chance, as Dec Howe flicked the ball on from a goal kick to release Whitehall in behind the Frod defence. Bearing down on goal the striker made no mistake in burying the ball into the net only to see the flag raised.
The Scunthorpe first-half starting XI had started the game in excellent fashion and continued to create chance after chance before opening the scoring on 15 minutes. After some inspired flair from Jean Belehouan to set up trialist Chapman in the area, the winger would chop past his marker and slot the ball across to Whitehall who finished the chance from close range with relative ease.
It wouldn’t take long for the Iron to double their advantage and would extend their lead within a matter of minutes. A dangerous cross from the right wing would evade all attempts to clear from App Frod defenders and find the feet of Howe in the area. With his first goal for his new club up for grabs Howe’s poachers instinct would kick in and allow him to tap the ball beyond the keeper for 2-0.
Chapman was certainly looking to make an impression on the Scunthorpe faithful in this game and when he was released down the right-flank he presented himself with a real chance to make it 3-0. His bursting run allowed him to carry the ball up to the penalty area, but ultimately the young wide man would opt to try and sweaty the ball across to Howe for his second, allowing a Frod defender to intercept and distinguish a clear chance for United.
With half-time approaching the hosts would get a goal back from what had been their first chance of the game. A set-piece into the area was pinpointed onto the head of defender Ben Kirk who directed a stunning header past goalkeeper Maison Campbell who couldn’t keep the ball out despite getting a hand to the powerful effort.
Following the half-time break the fully changed Iron side would be stunned in the early minutes when the hosts drew the game level from seemingly nowhere. An attack down the right-flank allowed Frod to cross into the area and find the digitised run of Josh Fraiwald in the area who unconventionally headed an effort at goal that looped into the bottom corner for the equaliser.
Following the equaliser the fixture would open up a lot more, Scunthorpe were still aiming to play their fast flowing style of football however were being halted by the low block of Frod that stood firm.
The best chance that the Iron would have to retaking the lead would come through trialist Simmonds off the left wing. After a dangerous cross into the area from Max Brogan to tee up Simmonds he would leap highest in the area to connect with the ball. His header was directed towards goal but crashed off the crossbar from point blank range.
With 63 minutes on the clock a chance would arise for the hosts to take the lead when Fraiwald went through on goal to double his tally. After winning a footrace over the top of the Scunthorpe defence, the forward would fantastically knock the ball beyond goalkeeper Johnson to give Frod the advantage.
From this moment on App Frod attempted to see out the victory and were set to park the bus for the remainder of the season. This would mean United’s chances became limited and the closest they would come to finding any sort of equaliser would be through Carlton Ubaezuonu in the games latter stages.
Into additional time at Brumby Hall a final opportunity would come when a cross into the box again evaded the Frod defence and found Ubaezuonu in open space. With the target to aim for the Irishman could only place the ball wide of the target from close range.
This would be the games final opportunity bringing an end to another pre-season fixture for the Iron. Although ending the game in defeat it was another promising first-half performance from United who got more valuable minutes in the legs.
IRON FIRST HALF XI: Campbell, Horton, Belehouan, Boyce, Howe, Whitehall, Eze, Ewing, Scales, Shipstone, Chapman.
IRON SECOND HALF XI: Johnson, Evans, Beestin, Whitehall, Rowley, Ubaezuonu, Ewing, Starbuck, Dawson, Dawes (Shipstone, 67), Simmonds
ATTENDANCE: 924
REFEREE: Ethan Nundy
