Back in Enterprise National League action this afternoon, Scunthorpe came into their encounter with Aldershot Town unbeaten in four in all competitions, but looking to go one step further than their midweek draw with Eastleigh FC by getting back to winning ways against a Shots side struggling in the league standings, but fresh off the back of appointing a new manager in the form of John Coleman.
Regarding United’s team selection for the afternoon, there was to be a medley of changes to Andy Butler’s side. Following an injury to defender Jean Belehouan in midweek, he dropped out of the side, making way for the return of Tyler Denton. Elsewhere, midfielder Zain Westbrooke regained his position in the starting lineup, replacing Alfie Beestin. Finally, a rare start for loanee forward Billy Chadwick saw him replace Irishman Carlton Ubaezuonu, who dropped to the bench.
With proceedings set underway at the Attis Arena, it was the Iron who put themselves on the front foot in the early exchanges, by maintaining possession inside the final third and in the process moving it around the deep-lying Shots with relative ease.
United would expand on this strong start to the fixture by creating the first chance from a set-piece. It was a well-whipped corner into the danger area on this occasion that saw skipper Andrew Boyce win the initial contact, flicking the ball towards goal, only to see his effort clash against the post and rebound back into play; however, Oli Ewing was unable to turn the ball home as his shot was deflected behind for another corner.
The game’s next action would be the opening goal, and it would come through the visitors against the run of play. With the Shots working the ball out to the right-hand side, forward Tristan Abrahams would ghost inside before lining up a finessed shot on goal that, on its way to the target, bounced off the back of Lebanese forward Hady Ghandour, sending the ball spiralling into the bottom corner for 1-0.
Unfortunate to be behind in the game, Scunthorpe would go in search of an immediate equaliser, and it wouldn’t take them long to find what they desired, securing the leveller in the 18th minute. Again, it was a corner that troubled the visitors, as this time it was Ewing’s cross to the far post that evaded all attempts to be cleared, allowing the ball to find the unmarked Cal Roberts on the goal line, who headed the ball home from the easiest of angles to make it all square.
From this moment onwards, it was to be nothing but one-way traffic as United flooded forward to find the goal to put them in front. This goal would arrive just over ten minutes after the first, with Westbrooke opening his account for the club by means of a poacher’s finish. With a cross to the back post pinpointed to the head of Whitehall, the Scunthorpe forward would nod the ball towards goal from a promising position. Although Whitehall’s effort had Marcus Dewhurst well beaten, the ball would cannon back off the crossbar and fall kindly back into the path of Westbrooke, who tapped it in for 2-1.
With the half in its closing stages, the Iron would come extremely close to a third through Roberts, who looked to end the half in style. Charging in from the right, Roberts would swiftly chop beyond not one but two Aldershot defenders, before lashing an effort towards the target that narrowly evaded both Dewhurst’s fingers and the upright as it went over the bar.
When proceedings restarted after the break, United’s momentum had been halted, and it would be the visitors who came out looking the livelier. Despite this, Scunthorpe would show their opponents an early warning sign when Roberts went close again, smashing a low effort into the side netting from the tightest of angles.
As the half progressed, the Shots would remain in control, forcing the hosts’ defence into some valiant defending, only for the ball to constantly come back in their direction. During one particular attack, Aldershot would’ve certainly levelled if not for the intervention of Boyce, as the Scunthorpe skipper made a crucial block to turn Ryan Hill’s curling effort away from goal that seemed destined for the top corner.
With just under 20 minutes remaining for Scunthorpe to protect their slender lead, they would be given the chance to expand on their advantage through substitute Declan Howe, who broke clean of the Aldershot defence and bore down on goal with a golden opportunity, only to have the angle closed down at the last moment, with his shot deflected into the air by a covering defender and eventually mopped up by Dewhurst as the goalkeeper scrambled back to claim the loose ball.
The next action in the game would be an incredible piece of goalkeeping from Rory Watson between the Scunthorpe sticks. After Abrahams’s surging run forward into the final third, he would tee the ball up with a pinpoint cross to the back post that found the head of Kwame Thomas, who had seemingly the whole goal to aim for, but saw his headed effort clawed onto the crossbar by Watson, showing cat like reflexes to keep the ball out and preserve his sides lead.
After another gruelling ten minutes of hard-fought defending from United, the points would finally be there. Despite not being a vintage performance, it was one to be proud of for Butler’s side, showing grit and determination to drive themselves up to second in the table.
IRON: Watson, Horton, Boyce, Whitehall (Dawson, 60), Roberts (Howe, 60), Rowley, Ewing, Starbuck, Westbrooke (Scales, 69), Chadwick (Ubaezuonu, 69), Denton.
IRON SUBS: Eze, Brogan, Beck.
ATTENDANCE: 4,222 (173 away)
REFEREE: Dale Baines
