The Iron were looking to continue their recent unbeaten run of nine matches the afternoon when they travelled to Derbyshire to face off with play-off hopefuls and fellow full-time side Buxton FC.
This was to be the fifth encounter between Scunthorpe and the Bucks across a two-year period and of these previous meetings the Iron had acquired just one point, a record they came into the tie looking to abolish.
In terms of the United team for the day it was to be another change of shape by Iron manager Andy Butler who opted to rest striker Mark Beck leaving recent debutant Chris Wreh to lead the Scunthorpe line on his own. In place of Beck came the energetic midfield man Kian Scales, who after being placed on the bench for the previous fixture, returned to the side with hopes of cementing his starting spot. Elsewhere, after two weeks out of the side central defender Andrew Boyce was back and available to play from off the bench.
In the game's early exchanges at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium both sides attempted to test one another with a flurry of early corners that failed to test the respective goalkeepers, however managed wake up both defences by calling them into action almost instantly.
The first chance of the game would fall to the Iron inside the opening 10 minutes when midfielder Joe Rowley dispossessed his opposing number skilfully in the middle of the park, after a storming run forward that presented the opportunity for a through ball into the forward run of Cal Roberts, Rowley released possession and found Roberts in the area who attempted to wrap the ball around goalkeeper Paul Cooper and into the far corner. However, Roberts failed to connect properly and saw his shot caught by Cooper.
Following this first chance another opportunity would present itself to Roberts mere minutes later in a similar area. It was some clever passing play from United that allowed them to work the ball from one side of the area to the other and it was Wreh who played the final ball into his teammate, but when looking to provide the same finish as the previous chance Roberts leaned back and sent his shot soaring over the bar.
In what was an action packed first-half of football at the highest stadium in English football, the Bucks would manage to create a couple of positive chance for themselves as the break approached. The majority of opportunities that the hosts had conjured had come through wide man Luke Brennan who was enjoying cutting in off the left flank. It was exactly this that gave Buxton their best chance of proceedings when Brennan chopped inside skilfully and opened up the space for a finessed shot. As the Irishman’s shot curled towards the top corner it was bravely diverted away for a corner by the head of defender Maxim Kouogun.
In response to this attack the Iron would mount one of their own courtesy of some exquisite link up between Wreh and Beestin to release Beestin down the left. With space to beat his man and fire a cross across the face of goal the winger would do just that with a pinpoint delivery into Roberts at the back post. Wide of the goal but a matter of yards out Roberts came steaming onto the ball but could only send the ball crashing into the post and behind for a goal kick.
On the stroke of half-time Scunthorpe would be made to regret their missed chances as Buxton would take the lead from a questionably awarded set-piece. It was a swift ball across the box that would be United’s undoing as somehow the ball evaded all efforts to clear and found Ethan Mann at the back post who rifled the ball into the top corner for 1-0.
This would be the half’s last action and after the restart the Iron would go in immediate search of a much-needed equaliser and would come a matter of inches away from finding it early on.
Scales was playing extremely well on the day and continued this theme with a dart from deep to meet the pass inside from Beestin. With the ball under his spell and space to explore, Scales drifted into the area and attempted to lash the ball towards goal only for it to fly a whisker wide of the target.
The Iron were in charge of the encounter during the second period but were still unable to find their worthy equaliser due to the persistent defending on Buxton who continued to battle hard for their lead.
In the 64th minute Scunthorpe fans would’ve surely thought that they had finally broken through the Buxton flood gates when Roberts went on a surging run down the right. After some lovely step overs to work the space for a cross, Roberts checked back and drove aa low ball into Scales in the centre who managed to steer his shot goalwards although it drifted marginally wide of Cooper’s near post, much to the shot stopper's relief.
As often the case the Iron’s substitutes were having a major impact on the game and the replaced front three of Beck, Mo Fadera and Carlton Ubaezuonu were mounting the push for an equaliser, however the Bucks would come close to a second through one of their own substitutes as striker Faisu Sangare broke into the area and sent his shot rolling past the far post.
After the fourth official had indicated an astonishing nine minutes of additional time Scunthorpe would finally get their minimum reward of a leveller in the second of these minutes. It would be Ubaezuonu to save the Iron as after his initial effort was blocked by his own man, but the Irishman pounced on the second with a cunning effort into the roof of the net.
With the scores level but time to spare the Iron would attempt to push on for the equaliser by mounting a full-scale siege on the Buxton goal. Deep in injury time there were countless corners that failed to bear fruit for United due to some expert keeping from Cooper who denied multiple Scunthorpe players with a flurry of saves at the death.
Following the full-time whistle there was a mix of frustration and relief among Scunthorpe who more than warranted the point they received to keep their unbeaten run going, but rightfully felt they deserved more from the tie at the Silverlands.
IRON: Fitzsimons, Kouogun, Evans, Clunan (Ubaezuonu, 77), Beestin (Fadera, 55), Roberts, Rowley, Wreh (Beck, 66), Scales, Denton, Rose (Boyce, 88).
