The Iron are back in action for a huge National League play-off semi-final match away
against Rochdale. Scunthorpe beat Southend last time out in a play-off quarter-final
match held at the Attis Arena. Cal Roberts returned from injury and netted the only goal
of the match in the opening five minutes in tidy style. The runners-up, who ended the
season with 106 points, will be looking to burst United’s bubble on Sunday with a place
in the final at stake.
In both matches between each side, each game ended in a draw. The first time each side met
was at the Crown Oil Arena, when Roberts fired Scunthorpe into the lead before a bizarre
penalty mishap from Emmanuel Dieseruvwe. Ryan East got the equaliser just after the half-hour
mark, and neither team could snatch a winner.
At the Attis Arena, Rochdale went 2-0 up through goals from Luke Hannant and Aidan Barlow. A resilient Scunthorpe fight back to help the game end all square, with Cal Roberts getting the first
goal to start the comeback, and Alfie Beestin firing in a late volley in the 87th minute to earn a
point.
Rochdale have had mixed form from their last form, with two wins, two draws and one loss, but one
infamous result was their most recent against York City. Dale knew they needed a win to leapfrog
York in the table and win the title, and managed to get a goal in the 90+5th minute, scored by
Dieseruvwe. The home crowd invaded the pitch in jubilation and celebrated what they thought
was the winner to take them back to the football league, but York equalised just minutes later in
the 90+13th minute to break Dale fans' hearts. It will be a huge task for these Rochdale players
to motivate themselves for a huge play-off semi-final after such a setback.
The main man to watch out for is the Rochdale number nine, Dieseruvwe.
Having scored in back-to-back games, whilst coming close to scoring a huge goal in Dale’s
history on the weekend, he will be desperate to get his side promoted after coming so close to
glory. He’s failed to score in both fixtures against the Iron and will be looking to change that.
With a match at Wembley on the line, Rochdale will be desperate for redemption after the cruel
end to their league campaign. The Iron can get back-to-back promotions to get back into the
football league with two more wins, starting against Rochdale.
