Report: Iron 1-1 Yeovil Town

With a successful pre-season campaign behind them it was that time again for the opening of a new season at the Attis Arena as Scunthorpe welcomed a much-strengthened Yeovil Town side who were looking to establish themselves with a statement victory in a clash between two of the Enterprise National League’s predicted front runners.

With regards to First team manager Andy Butler’s opening day team selection, he would maintain the same shape that helped the Iron reach the promotion semi-final last campaign, but with seven new summer additions to implement into his line-up, the Scunthorpe faithful would have the chance to see two new signing in action as both Cal Howe and Jordan Richards took to the turf for the first time in league action.

When proceedings were set underway at the Attis Arena both sides would take the opening ten minutes to adapt to the extreme temperatures with very little to report barring some hopeful balls over the top of both defences that were well swept up by the respective goalkeepers.

With 13 minutes on the clock the games first opportunity would arise for United as some intricate passing into the final third would see Pat Jones let possession run into the path of Alfie Beestin on the edge of the area, who returned the favour with a through ball for Jones in behind, allowing him time to swing a cross to the far post that narrowly evaded the head of both Danny Whitehall and Dec Howe on its way behind for a goal kick.

In the minutes that followed the Glovers would respond with a chance of their own, registering the games first shot on target when Ryan Jones danced into the Scunthorpe area, chopping inside of his marker before firing a low snapshot towards the bottom corner that forced Louis Jones into a strong low stop down to his right to push the shot clear.

Those in attendance would have to wait until the 30th minute for the games next opportunity when again Jones threatened down the left flank for the Iron as he was threaded in behind the Yeovil defence with nothing but space to exploit as he drove towards the penalty area, firing an effort towards the target that wasn’t dealt with convincingly by goalkeeper Jos Barker as he parried the shot back towards his own goal before Jordan Norville-Williams managed to clear to end the attack.

With the half-time break drawing nearer Scunthorpe would have a golden opportunity to take the lead in the tie as a quick throw from Danny Whitehall released Howe down the right flank, beating his marker and sliding a low pass into the feet of Jordan Richards in the area who just couldn’t sort his feet out in time to control his shot as he could only direct the ball over the crossbar from just outside the six yard box.

This would bring the first period’s action to an end with both sides looking for a much improved second half if either team was to make the breakthrough, which the hosts would accomplish mere minutes after the restart through lively wide-man Mason Obeng.

Ultimately it was a set-piece delivery that undid Scunthorpe as a sensational delivery to the back post found the run of the unmarked Obeng at the far post who came charging onto the cross, meeting it with a skilled volley that soared into the top corner, leaving Jones with no chance between the sticks as the former Walton and Hersham forward marked his league debut with a goal.

Following the opener the Iron would look to mount a charge towards the equaliser. However, it would be the Glovers that had the games next real opportunity as Jones drove inside off the right-hand side, mounted several attempted tackles before driving an effort towards the bottom corner that was well caught by Jones who managed to keep hold of the effort.

As United advanced forward in search of an equaliser it would be Jones who was looking like their best avenue of attack, causing all kinds of problems for Archie Davies down the right flank, coming close on a number of occasions to getting the all-important shot away. However, on the one occasion he did manage to shape up and bend an effort towards the target, it wouldn’t manage to get there due to Davies’s well-placed defending to block the ball behind for a corner.

With 15 minutes of play remaining for Scunthorpe to equalise their commitment to attacking would leave the exposed at the back, allowing the visitors to create a chance to double their lead when a quick break saw Obeng feed Matty Daly through on goal, closing in on the target before Tyler Denton produced a certain goal saving challenge inside the area to deny Yeovil a second, bringing his game to an end with an injury as a result.

As United flooded forward with a sense of urgency to their play, their persistence would finally be rewarded with the equaliser in the 89th minute when a recycled cross found Luke Brennan in the area. Despite being in a wide position, Brennan would work the ball onto his stronger right boot, curling the ball into a dangerous area with a cross come shot that nestled in the top corner, beating Barker’s hopeful dive to mark Scunthorpe’s summer signings’ league debut with an important leveller.

Despite the fourth official indicating eight minutes of added time, it was a closing stages of which there was very little to report, as both teams appeared comfortable to settle for a point from what had been a competitive season opener, although the encounter had been short of enough quality to decide a winner.

IRON: L. Jones, Evans, C.Howe, D. Howe (Brennan, 65), Beestin (Butterfield, 65), Whitehall, Rowley (Gale, 65), P. Jones (Hurst, 83), Richards, Denton (Horton, 76), Barrows

IRON SUBS: Campbell, Belehouan

ATTENDANCE: 5,111 (260 Away)

REFEREE: Michael Barlow

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