The Iron were back in league action this afternoon when they welcomed Paul Holleran’s Leamington FC to the Attis Arena for an all-important encounter in the National League North.
This was to be the first time the sides had met on Scunthorpe’s home turf with the only other previous fixture between the teams coming as a 2-0 victory for United back in November.
With regards to Scunthorpe’s team news there was to be a duo of forced changes to Andy Butler’s side for the fixture against the Brakes. Firstly, Alfie Beestin would be made to miss the game due to a minor injury and was replaced by forward Mark Beck who came in to lead the United line with fellow striker Chris Wreh. Elsewhere, after a late knock to his heel full-back Oli Rose would miss his first game since joining the club on loan in January. As a result, a first start would be awarded to right-back Joe Starbuck who had a point to prove Infront of the Scunthorpe faithful.
As proceedings got underway at the Attis Arena it would take both sides a period of time to get to grips with the surface and the game in general as possession was exchanged a number of times.
After the Brakes early threat of Rob Evans’ long throw was neutralised by a commanding display from Ross Fitzsimons, the Iron would look to craft the games first major chance through some lovely football down the left-flank. The ball was fizzed out wide to Kian Scales who linked up well with Tyler Denton to make room for a shot, the eventual effort was struck well and stung goalkeeper Callum Hawkins’ palms on its way to the back post.
No more than three minutes on from this chance the visitors would craft an opportunity of their own when pouncing on a mistake made by Scunthorpe defender Maxim Kouogun. It was in-form forward Tim Berridge that latched onto Kouogun’s loose pass and advanced into the United final third, with space to drive an effort at goal Berridge powered an effort at Fitzsimons who was forced to bat the effort away with a diving stop.
Following this chance, Kouogun would have a chance to redeem himself by being given the opportunity to open the scoring. It was Cal Roberts that set up Kouogun with a pinpoint cross after he drifted inside off the right-flank and floated the ball to the back post as it found the Irishman’s disguised run. In an attempt to steer the ball home Kouogun launched himself at the ball and found himself clattered by Hawkins with the ball spiralling behind for a goal kick.
In the half’s next action, the Iron would have the ball in the back of the Leamington net only for it to be disallowed for offside. It was Roberts again who found Denton’s unmarked run at the far post and in what was a tremendous acrobatic piece of play, the full-back pulled the ball back across the face of goal to the unmarked Beck who nodded it home for what would’ve been his second goal for the club. However, the assistant referee’s flag was raised to cut short celebration as he’d deemed Denton to be in an offside position.
As the half drew to its close United started to assert their dominance on the game with a number of half-chances that were well defended by the Leamington back line. One of these opportunities would be just before the break when Roberts skilfully pulled the ball back to captain Michael Clunan on the edge of the penalty area. It isn’t often that Clunan pulls the trigger but on this occasion his shot was perfectly struck and destined for the bottom corner but for the last gasp intervention of defender Josh Quaynar who cleared the ball off the line.
This would be the last action of the first half and when the teams returned for the second period an early goal was crucial to dictate the remainder of proceedings. Almost immediately it looked like United would be the more likely to open the scoring as the half-time substitute of Carlton Ubaezuonu was causing the visitors all kinds of problems.
Since joining the fray, Ubaezuonu had been putting enormous amounts of pressure on the Brakes' centre-back pairing and came extremely close to getting himself a goal to go with his energetic performance when he accidentally blocked Roberts’s shot from range. As the ball ricocheted back off Carlton, he attempted to frantically sort out his feet and fire a shot at goal, only for Hawkins to come steaming out and smother the ball at close range.
Just as the game ticked over the hour mark the Iron would finally take the lead from the penalty spot after Mark Beck was hauled down at the back post to deny an opportunity. From the resulting spot kick Roberts would step up and clinically slot the ball into the bottom corner for what was the winger’s 17th goal of the campaign.
Now with the advantage United would attempt to protect their lead up until the final whistle, limiting their opponents to half chances and battling hard for the possibility of a second goal to kill the game off.
The Brakes would attempt to show their attacking threat again on 80 minutes when they took advantage of a loose ball in midfield. It was Henry Landers who stole possession and stormed down the right-hand side into the Scunthorpe penalty area. With some great feet to free up some face for the shot, Landers stung a powerful effort at the Scunthorpe goal but once again Fitzsimons was equal to the effort and plucked the ball out the top corner to deny the visitors a heartbreaking equaliser.
With the Iron defence showing no sign of letting up and presenting Leamington with another chance to draw level, the job was left to the now Scunthorpe front three to try and put the game to bed and this was almost achieved through the ever-lively Roberts. Again the winger managed to drive inside and create a yard of space for a finessed shot at goal, the effort was well stung and soared towards the bottom corner, only for Hawkins to rescue his side with a tremendous diving stop to tip the ball round the post.
This was to be the last action of the game signalling a by no means glamorous yet professional victory for the Iron as they picked up another vital three points in the race for National League North promotion.
IRON: Fitzsimons, Kouogun, Evans, Clunan, Roberts, Rowley, Wreh (Ubaezuonu, 45) (Boyce, 90) , Beck (Fadera, 81) Scales, Starbuck, Denton.
IRON UNUSED SUBS: Kelly, Williams.
