With the Iron on a winless run of four games, yet still well cemented in the play-off positions of the Enterprise National League standings, Andy Butler’s side came into this evening’s encounter against title challengers York City looking for an inspired performance to boost confidence. The Minstermen, however, came into the game on a sensational unbeaten run of 22 games, a long-lasting record that dated back to when United dealt them their last defeat back in early October.
Ahead of the fixture their was a series of changes for the Iron, as defender Ross Barrows dropped out of the side after picking up an injury at the weekend against Aldershot Town, being replaced by fellow right-back Joe Starbuck. Elsewhere, Tyler Denton came back into the starting XI to replace central defender Will Evans as he continued to monitor several slight knocks, although he was still made available from the alternates. Finally, Irishman Carlton Ubaezuonu was handed a rare starting position over midfield maestro Oli Ewing, who moved to the bench.
With the Attis Arena rocking with anticipation of a top-of-the-table clash in front of a booster crowd, the Iron would make a promising start to the fixture, standing toe to toe with their high-flying opponents.
Despite several early attacks that would lead to nothing for Scunthorpe, the Minstermen would create a golden chance to take the lead just ten minutes in when a long kick forward from Harisson Male found the run of Josh Stones in behind the United defence. Bearing down on goal against the onrushing Rory Mahady, Stones would power the ball into the outstretched palm of the goalkeeper, who somehow managed to bat the ball away.
Following this chance, the scores wouldn’t remain level for much longer as the visitors took the lead through the lively-looking Stones. Chasing down yet another ball in behind to seize possession, the former Wigan striker would weave his way into the area before driving the ball into the far corner to make it 1-0.
Despite falling behind, United would refuse to give up the foothold they had already built in the game, still passing with a strong tempo and looking to break down their opponents as they went.
The closest the Iron would come to levelling would come in the 21st minute when a defensive mishap from the York defence would allow Danny Whitehall to delightfully drop the ball into the path of Ubaezuonu, with the striker wrapping a volleyed effort towards the bottom corner from the edge of the box that narrowly evaded the target.
Despite Scunthorpe finally getting themselves back on top of the fixture, their push for an equaliser would be halted by York, who doubled their lead from seemingly nowhere. After winning back possession high up the pitch, Stones would firstly attempt to do as he did for the first goal until he was initially thwarted by an Andrew Boyce challenge, although he would be allowed to take the ball out wide before clipping the ball into the area for attacking midfielder Joe Grey to attack, heading the ball beyond the reach of Mahady.
This would be the last action of the first period as United went in behind at the break, looking for a response in the second period or to at least try to make something out of the game.
From the restart, the visitors would have the chance to expand their advantage when a swift counterattack from front to back allowed Stones to thread the ball forward into the path of star man Ollie Pearce. With just Mahady to beat, Pearce would go to chip the ball over the goalkeeper, which the Scotsman did well to save as he spread himself at full stretch. With the ball still in play and the chance still alive, York would work the ball back out wide for wing-back Jeff King, with the former Chesterfield man striking a sensational effort towards the top corner that crashed off the crossbar before being hooked away.
With 67 minutes on the clock, Scunthorpe were gathering momentum in their push to get back in the game and would build towards their best chance yet after some positive build-up play on the edge of the box. Bopping the ball around with some serious intent, Roberts would cut inside and lay the ball off into the path for Zain Westbrooke, presenting the midfielder with time to strike the ball towards the target, although his low-driven strike was well blocked by a York body on its way to goal.
Mere minutes later, the Minstermen faithful were given a third reason of the night to celebrate, when Stones burst clear over the half-way line and further proved his hefty price tag with some sensational forward play to shrug off the recovering Branden Horton’s attempts to tackle and round Mahady, slotting the ball into the net from the tightest of angles to make it 3-0.
At this stage of proceedings, it was truly game, set and match from a Scunthorpe perspective, settling into the scoreline and opting to plan for the next fixture against Solihull Moors at the weekend by making a number of changes to rest legs, regroup and to go again as they always will do.
IRON: Mahady, Horton, Boyce, Beestin (Smith, 73), Whitehall (Hurst, 73), Roberts (Dausch, 73), Rowley, Ubaezuonu, Starbuck, Westbrooke (Ewing, 73), Denton.
IRON SUBS: Jones, Evans, Shipstone.
ATTENDANCE: 6,383 (1,625 away)
REFEREE: Zac Kennard-Kettle
