Report: Iron 1-1 Chesterfield

Following a successful pre-season campaign on travelling soil to date, the Iron would return to home action this evening in order to unveil the new Attis Arena turf against Football League opponents in the form of Chesterfield. In late change to the actions pre-planned 90 minutes of football, both sides would agree to extend the encounter by 30 minutes, giving chance to give their players the desired minutes.

In terms of the Scunthorpe side to take on the Spireites, first-team manager Andy Butler would operate display a strong starting XI for the encounter, presenting home debuts to a number of his summer additions including Cal Howe at the heart of the defence, Jordan Richards and James Gale within the midfield engine room and Luke Brennan to provide width to the Iron attack.

When proceedings were set underway at the Attis Arena it would take United a matter of minutes to adjust to their new surface when they created an early opportunity. After a lovely interchange of play to work possession out to the left flank, a fantastic pinpoint cross into the area would find the head of the unmarked Gale in the area, diverting the ball towards the target but into the grateful grasp of Ryan Boot.

The games next action would see a response from the visitors who very well could’ve taken the lead when striker Lee Bonis broke clear of the Iron defensive line, storming through on goal with just Louis Jones to beat before looking to slot the ball beneath the goalkeeper. However, Bonis would fail to convert the chance due to a fantastic reflex stop from Jones to push the ball clear with an outstretched leg.

In the minutes that followed Bonis would have yet another golden opportunity to give his side the advantage when some sensational play from Dilan Markanday allowed for him to work his way into the penalty area down the right touch line before driving the ball across the penalty area for the run of Bonis at the far post who just failed to get contact on the ball as it grazed beneath his studs.

With just under 25 minutes played Scunthorpe would have their best chance yet to put themselves in front when a delightful through ball in behind the Spireites defence was left by Danny Whitehall for Dec Howe to latch onto, carrying the ball into nothing but green grass for just Boot to beat, slotting his effort beneath the onrushing goalkeeper but just placing it inches wide of the mark as it trickled past the far post.

In what had been an evenly matched first period so far United would look to make the breakthrough before half-time when Howe again attempted to get the better of Boot after he reacted first to win the seconds from Jordan Richards looping header, firing an instinctive dink towards the target that had the goalkeeper backpedalling in a state of panic as he martialled it over the crossbar and onto the roof of the net.

In the last action of the opening half, it would be the visitors who created one final chance when former Doncaster Rovers forward Liam Mandeville picked up possession inside the Scunthorpe are before advancing forward and looking to pick out the top corner with a looping effort that was equally matched by Jones who palmed the shot clear of the target.

Following this the half-time whistle would sound marking the end of a well-matched opening 45 minutes of action which United would look to build on in the second half despite making the worst possible start.

Within minutes of the restart the Iron would find themselves behind in the encounter as their opponents went coast to coast, driving up the field after winning back possession before a cleared cross into the area found its way to George McEachran on the edge of the box who lashed an instinctive low volley into the bottom corner, giving the Spireites the advantage.

As the next 20 minutes came and went with neither side emerging with nothing to show, the two outfits would look to their benches to provide reinforcements with almost full line-up changes from the respective dugouts.

Following these alterations United would look to establish a route back to level terms and almost found it on 73 minutes when Gale leaped highest in the penalty area to meet Jacob Butterfield’s corner delivery, nodding an effort towards the target that looked to be goal bound until a late intervention from Boot saw the header tipped over the crossbar.

With just under ten minutes of the original 90 minutes worth of action remaining, Scunthorpe substitute goalkeeper Maison Campbell would be called into action to produce a fine diving stop to deny a certain second as he leapt to his right to push a close ranged headed effort from Frazer Bryden away from the target.

With 87 minutes played and the Iron still looking to tie the scores they would finally find the leveller they seeked as some intricate passing to release Connor Smith down the right saw the flying Scotsman drive along the by-line before pulling the ball back to the edge of the area for Alfie Beestin to strike, firing the ball beyond Boot to make it all square going into the extra 30 minutes.

Following the restart of play United looked to build on the momentum of the equaliser by creating a number of half chances during the opening exchanges, forcing their visitors to fulfil their defensive duties.

However, despite Scunthorpe’s persistence it would be the Spireites who had the first real chance of extra time when Bryden bore down on the United goal, looking to try and drive the ball beneath Campbell and into the bottom corner, although the goalkeeper was again equal to it with a strong hand to thwart his opponent.

With over 100 minutes on the clock the Iron would get the chance to test Boot yet again as the lively looking Pat Jones accelerated beyond his marker down the left, chopping inside his covering marker to open up the space for a finessed effort that whipped towards the far corner, although the shot was patted down by the goalkeeper who denied the strike with relative ease.

As time drew near at the Attis Arena there would still be time for one final chance for United to steal the victory when Kyle Hurst was threaded in behind the visitors offside trap, chasing a bouncing ball into the penalty area before rifling an effort towards substitute shot stopper James Sissons who did exactly what he had been brought on to do as he somehow managed to deflect the ball over the crossbar courtesy of a fine reflex save.

With that there was to be no more action to report in what had been Scunthorpe’s first run out at home for the season, with the curtain falling on a fiercely contested pre-season encounter that was a hard-fought test for both sides. Now, Iron attentions turn to next week’s opening league encounter with Yeovil Town as the Enterprise National League season rolls round again.

IRON: L. Jones (Campbell, 62), Evans (Belehouan, 73), C. Howe (Barrows, 73), D. Howe (Hurst, 62), Whitehall (Rose, 77), Brennan (P. Jones, 62), Rowley (Butterfield, 57), Richards (Beestin, 57), Starbuck (Ogle, 62), Gale (Smith, 73), Denton (Horton, 62)

IRON UNUSED SUBS: Shipstone

ATTENDANCE: 1,512 (202 Away)

REFEREE: Gareth Thomas