Following victory in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend, the Iron were back in Enterprise National League action this afternoon for a Lincolnshire-based encounter against Boston United.
An old foe of United’s, the Pilgrims came into the fixture with a slight pick-up in form in recent weeks, whereas Scunthorpe were looking to extend their unbeaten away start to the season with their third consecutive victory in all competitions.
With regards to the Iron line-up for the fixture, there was just the one change from their previous league fixture against Morecambe. With left-back Tyler Denton still nursing a minor injury, he was replaced by fellow full-back Branden Horton, who came into the side to start his first league fixture since picking up a suspension against FC Halifax Town. However, Scunthorpe would go without recently extended loan signing Ty Sellars-Fleming, who missed out on the match day squad with a knock.
With the play set underway by United at the Jakemans Community Stadium, they would look to impose themselves on the hosts by keeping the majority of possession, attempting to test Boston’s defensive unit with several progressive attacks in the early stages.
As both sides began to settle into the fixture, the hosts would have to wait until the 20th minute mark to create the first chance of the proceedings when a looping ball over the top saw striker Kieren Donnelly advance through on the Scunthorpe goal. Carrying the ball towards the penalty area, all Donnelly had to do was lift the ball over the onrushing Rory Watson to break the deadlock. However, the forward would sting the ball directly into the chest of the goalkeeper, who stood tall and firm to deny the effort.
This golden chance would mark the start of an impressive 10-minute spell from the hosts, who would be frustrated at their failure to capitalise on their dominance as they slowly opened the door for Scunthorpe to create some opportunities of their own.
With the half coming to an end, the Iron would advance down the left-hand side, looking to get Horton and Declan Howe combining in the final third. On this occasion, the pair would do just that, with Howe being threaded into the penalty area and looking to chop beyond his marker, Connor Teale, who blocked Howe’s run, leading to penalty shouts aplenty from the Scunthorpe faithful. However, it was deemed not to be by referee Matthew Scholes, who waved for play to continue.
In the half’s final notable action, Scunthorpe would create their best opportunity of the game courtesy of some sublime offensive link-up between Joe Starbuck and Cal Roberts. As the Iron’s right flank duo completed a slick interchange of possession to slide Starbuck into the area, the right-back would chop inside onto his weaker left foot before finessing an effort towards goal that seemed destined for the sanction if not for the late interference of a sliding Boston defender to turn the ball behind for a corner.
When the sides returned for the second period of play at a lively Jakemans Community Stadium, United would start proceedings in a similar manner to the first, controlling possession and creating chances to break the deadlock as the Pilgrims scrambled to defend.
The best of these previously mentioned chances would see United produce a swift counter-attacking move from defence to attack, as several one-touch passes saw Starbuck released down the right. With a choice to take a touch or whip an instant cross towards the back post, Starbuck would do the latter, whipping a pinpoint ball into the path of Whitehall, who somehow failed to connect with the cross as it fizzed across him, mere yards from the target.
With 55 minutes played and the game still goalless, it wouldn’t remain this way any longer, as against the run of play, it was the hosts who took the lead. After a fast-thinking throw-in saw Donnelly released in behind the defence once again, he would be tackled by the recovering Will Evans before somehow recovering possession and stinging an effort at Watson. With Watson producing a strong palm to deny the initial effort, the ball would spin kindly back into the path of Lenell John-Lewis, who tapped the ball home to give his side a 1-0 lead.
As play continued, the Iron were now visibly unsettled, and as a result, opportunities were arising for the hosts to further extend their newfound advantage. With Pilgrims winger Matty Carson looking dangerous in attack, he would receive the ball on the left flank with space to drive into and players in support. Once he’d made it to the penalty area, Carson’s decision-making would be his undoing, as instead of shooting from a promising position, he would choose to try and pass the ball across the face of the goal, where no teammate could provide the finishing touch.
With a nervy 15 minutes remaining on the clock, Scunthorpe would be handed a lifeline from seemingly nowhere as a hopeful cross to the back post saw Whitehall hauled to the floor by his marker. After debating his decision for a second or two, the referee would point to the spot, much to the dismay of the Boston fanbase. From the resulting spot kick, Roberts would step up to the plate and produce a composed finish to send goalkeeper Rhys Lovett the wrong way and level the scores.
From this moment onwards, it was all United as they flooded forward to try and find a winner. Despite their desperation, the Iron would be forced to wait until the 90th minute to see Lovett tested again, with the goalkeeper producing a crucial stop to deny Roberts’s signature chop inside and strike that was arrowing towards the corner if not for a reactive fine stop.
With this, the game would come to an end with the points shared between the two sides. A fair representation of proceedings, Scunthorpe would be happy to take the points back to North Lincolnshire, with a tough trip to Eastleigh awaiting them on Tuesday night.
IRON: Watson, Horton, Belehouan, Evans (Scales, 65), Howe (Ubaezuonu, 65), Beestin, Whitehall (Dawson, 79), Roberts, Rowley, Ewing, Starbuck.
IRON UNUSED SUBS: Eze, Brogan, Chadwick, Westbrooke.
ATTENDANCE: 2,866 (644 Away)
REFEREE: Matthew Scholes
