Report: Cleethorpes Town 2-4 Iron

Following a disappointing defeat against Appleby Frodingham earlier in the week Scunthorpe looked to get their pre-season preparations back to winning ways with a trip to the coast where they would face a Cleethorpes Town side that they faced during last seasons Lincolnshire Senior Cup Final.

The Iron were victorious on that occasion and looked intent to match that outcome during this encounter with the Owls.

With United forwards Mark Beck and Cal Roberts returning to action for the first time since last season, Scunthorpe would start the game with some impressive attacking play that put the hosts on the back foot. After some classy interplay to set up a Tyler Denton cross into the area from the left, Beck would latch onto the cross and direct a header at goalkeeper Ollie Battersby who caught the effort well.

Scunthorpe's fast paced start would continue with Beck bringing Roberts into the action mere minutes later. The winger would find space to drive into the Owls' penalty area, however his low driven shot trickled just wide of the post as Battersby scrambled to meet it.

With 20 minutes on the clock United were presented with a fantastic opportunity to take the lead through striker Declan Howe. After being threaded into the Cleethorpes penalty area Howe composed himself to beat the onrushing goalkeeper and prodded the ball beyond his opposite, time appeared to stand still as Howe’s shot rolled across the line but marginally missed the target.

Although the Iron had appeared dominant in the early exchanges that would all soon change when the Owls took the lead after a period of control. It was Jacob Gratton who received possession on the edge of the Scunthorpe area and fizzed a stunning effort from the edge of the area that found the bottom corner for 1-0.

Cleethorpes would maintain their advantage until the half-time break and would come close to doubling their lead on the stoke of the break. A threaded pass into the United penalty area found the disguised run of Ben Andreucci at the front post, the former Sheffield United man seemed destined to score until Maison Campbell denied him with a smart save.

After the half-time break the second period would start in the same manner as the first. The hosts fell under early pressure from Scunthorpe would eventually make the most of their chances by drawing the scores level in the 51st minute.

After collecting the ball with his back to goal in the Owls penalty area, Danny Whitehall would attempt to take a touch that would set him up for a shot. The striker's heavy touch would take the ball into the path of Kian Scales who lashed the ball beyond the keeper for 1-1.

Following the equaliser the hosts wouldn’t have to wait long to restore their lead when Nicky Walker swooped in from seemingly nowhere to smash the ball home to make the scores interesting once again.

Now chasing the game for a second time Andy Butler’s men were by no means down and out. A flurry of changes set the wheels in motion for United to find an equaliser and when the trialist Okera Simmonds tried his look with a ambitious effort that cleared the crossbar their seemed to be life restored to Scunthorpe’s squad.

It wouldn’t take long for United to equalise following this chance with Simmonds playing a key part. As the winger danced into the plenty area he calmly slotted the ball into Alfie Beestin’s feet who was left with just Battersby to beat and he did so in style with a composed finish to make it 2-2.

With the game in it’s dramatic closing stages the Iron would work their chance to win the fixture when a penalty was awarded to United for a clumsy challenge in the area. From the resultant spot kick Whitehall would get his deserved goal with a sensational Panenka attempt that saw him dink the ball beyond Battersby.

Scunthorpe refused to just see out the victory and with essentially the last kick of the game they would stun the Owls with a cunning counter attack. Simmonds and Eze’s link up in the final third had been impressive in the second period and when the two wingers linked up to set up Oli Ewing on the edge of the hosts penalty area, the Leicester City academy product made no mistake by smashing the ball into the net with a half-volley that was deflected on the line.

This would bring proceedings to a close with referee David Jones sounding his full-time whistle. Scunthorpe would return to winning ways and despite a worthy test from an impressive Cleethorpes side, stood firm and proved too much with their attacking fire power in what was another fantastic work out against local opposition.

IRON: Campbell, Evans, Boyce, Howe (Simmonds, 56'), Roberts (Eze, 45'), Rowley (Ewing, 87'), Ewing (Brogan, 63'), Beck (Whitehall, 35'), Scales (Shipstone, 72'), Denton (Horton, 60'), Chapman (Beestin, 45').

REFEREE: David Jones

ATTENDANCE: TBC