REPORT: Eastleigh 1-1 Iron

Looking to get back to winning ways after their 1-1 draw with Boston United at the weekend, the Iron were back in league action this evening for a rearranged encounter with Eastleigh FC. The previous meeting between the two sides took place in September, when proceedings were abandoned due to a late clash of heads, with the scoreline fixed at 1-1, hence giving United the chance to go one step further, looking to take all three points on this occasion.

With regards to Scunthorpe’s team selection for the fixture, club captain Andrew Boyce was back available for selection following a three-game suspension, he was selected to regain his position at the heart of the Scunthorpe defence, with Will Evans missing out through injury. Elsewhere, after a match-winning goal against King's Lynn two weeks ago, forward Carlton Ubaezuonu was granted his first start since the previous fixture with the Spireites, with Declan Howe dropping to the bench.

It was the Iron who got proceedings underway at the Silverlake stadium and as a result were able to set in motion a wave of early attacks that caught the hosts off guard. It would take Scunthorpe less than two minutes to create worry amongst the Eastleigh defence when Alfie Beestin received a bouncing ball on the edge of the penalty area and set himself to sting a ferocious volley towards the target, which had goalkeeper Nick Townsend scrambling as it narrowly evaded the upright.

In the minutes that followed this early opportunity, United would be at it again, creating a golden chance for the game’s opening goal when Ubaezuonu went rushing beyond the Eastleigh back line. Released through on goal with just Townsend to beat, Carlton would be forced to chop the ball back before taking his shot, allowing the Spitfires goalkeeper to set himself and produce a fantastic diving stop to deny Ubaezuonu an almost certain first league goal of the season.

As the half progressed, the hosts would patiently build themselves into the encounter; however, they were unable to use their possession to their advantage, failing to register a shot on the Scunthorpe goal in the first period.

United, however, were still creating clear-cut chances of their own and would find themselves hard done by not to be Infront, especially when Townsend was again forced to make a smart stop just past the half-hour mark. On this occasion. It was some neat, intricate passing that allowed the ball to be worked to Cal Roberts on the right flank. Driving into the space in front of him, Roberts would finesse the ball towards the goal, with Townsend leaping to the rescue by means of a strong palm to deflect the ball clear of danger.

This would bring a promising first period to an end at Silverlake, with Scunthorpe looking to add the crucial finishing touch in the second half, having been left disappointed not to be ahead given the sheer number of opportunities they’d created.

When the sides returned to the field of play, Scunthorpe would begin the second half in the same manner as the first, with an almost instant attack that could’ve easily resulted in the opener.

Building through the thirds, Oli Ewing would carry the ball forward for the Iron before spotting the run of Roberts, who was left unmarked on the right. Despite having to wait for the ball to reach him, Roberts would slide the ball across to Whitehall on the edge of the area, who unfortunately slipped as he was just about to pull the trigger, sending the ball straight into the welcoming grasp of Townsend.

Following this chance, it wouldn’t take long for Scunthorpe to finally get their just rewards, taking the lead from the penalty spot. The penalty would be awarded when a deep cross to the back post was set to be turned home by Jean Belehouan, only for the defender to be hauled to the ground by Eastleigh’s Luis Fernández. From the spot kick, Whitehall would step up to the plate, making no mistake as he dispatched the ball into the bottom corner for 1-0.

With the advantage finally on their side, Scunthorpe would look to expand on their advantage with a flurry of chances near the hour mark. The first of these opportunities would come from another corner ball as Ewing’s delivery again made its way to the back post unchallenged, clashing off the underside of the upright before somehow not making its way into the net.

The next chance for the Iron would be a golden one to kill the game off. As Ubaezuonu flicked the ball through to Beestin, a defensive slip-up from Temi Eweka would allow “the Beast” to race through on goal. One-on-one with Townsend to beat again, the midfielder would look to slot the ball beneath the onrushing goalkeeper, who produced a sensational save with his trailing leg to diffuse the danger and keep his side in the game.

From this moment onwards, United were made to think what could’ve been as the hosts began to grow into the encounter following some substitutions. One of whom, Kieron Evans, would go on an inspired drive forward that would lead to the equaliser, as the attacking midfielder’s tidy through ball would result in striker Ciaran McGuckin flicking home the equaliser from a matter of yards.

A sense of déjà vu was ringing around the stadium at this point in proceedings as the two outfits were locked in an intense battle that seemed destined to finish level.

With the game in its closing stages, there would be enough time for Scunthorpe to conjure one final opportunity at the death. With United playing patiently on the edge of the Eastleigh box, Whitehall would look to slot the ball into the path of the wide-open Roberts in the centre. When the ball found his feet, Roberts was unable to produce a shot and, as a result, was forced to lay the ball into the path of Kian Scales, whose well-hit strike was caught comfortably by Townsend to bring a disappointing end to proceedings from the Iron’s perspective.

IRON: Watson, Horton, Belehouan (Rose, 78), Boyce, Beestin, Whitehall, Roberts, Rowley, Ubaezuonu (Howe, 71), Ewing (Scales, 78), Starbuck.

IRON SUBS: Brogan, Dawson, Chadwick, Westbrooke.

ATTENDANCE: 1980 (101 Away)

REFEREE: Alan Dale