REPORT: Boston United 2-1 Iron

With Scunthorpe keen to end their woeful run of form in the Enterprise National League, they would enter their encounter with Lincolnshire rivals Boston United hoping for a repeat of their 3-1 triumph at the Jakemans Community Stadium just two weeks earlier. As well as this, United came into the fixture under new interim management following the dismissal of former manager Andy Butler in midweek.

The Iron's interim boss made a double change to his first team selection, as firstly, a change of shape meant there was no room in defence for Hull City loanee Stan Ashbee, who dropped to the bench for either of United's wingers for the evening in the form of Luke Brennan and Pat Jones, who were inducted back into the Starting XI as versatile attacker Kyle Hurst also dropped to the bench.

When proceedings were set underway under a fog-filled Halloween sky, it was an energetic start to the fixture to say the least, as both sides started brightly, attacking at pace and equally as threatening in an end-to-end affair.

The first chance of the fixture would come out of nothing for the Iron when a cunning counterattack saw James Norwood receive the ball in the middle of the park before playing an instinctive through ball beyond the Boston backline and into the path of Jones on the right flank, who burst through on goal, driving towards the penalty area and buying himself time to lash an effort towards the bottom corner that was well saved by goalkeeper Louis Chadwick, who got down well to push the ball clear.

Despite this opening chance, the game’s next opportunity ended up coming from the penalty spot as the hosts were awarded a spot kick when striker Tom Cursons was brought down in the area by Jean Belehouan. From the resultant penalty, Cursons stepped up to the spot with confidence, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner and sending Maison Campbell the wrong way for 1-0.

With half an hour on the clock in Boston, Scunthorpe had a golden opportunity to try and level the score when a well-worked passage of play down the left allowed for Luke Brennan to advance down the line, teasing his defender before pulling the ball back into the path of Alfie Beestin on the edge of the area, who, with onrushing defenders to beat, looked to lift the ball into the top corner, taking a deflection as the effort nestled on the roof of the net.

As half-time approached with Boston’s lead still slender, it would take a United corner to produce the second that the hosts desired when, from one end to the other, Ken Aboh carried the ball forward for the Pilgrims, finding himself with an abundance of Amber shirts in support, sliding the ball into the marauding run of Cursons on the edge of the area, who slowed play down to pick his spot, firing a low driven effort beyond Campbell and into the bottom corner for 2-0.

This brought a disappointing first period to an end, with the Iron requiring a vast improvement in the second half if they were going to have any chance of turning around their current two-goal deficit.

Following the return of the teams for the second period, the Iron’s half-time message became clear early into proceedings when, within the opening minutes of the new half, they came close to pulling one back. After attacking at pace down the left, possession would drop to Jones inside the Boston area, taking the ball wide before looking to drive the ball towards the bottom corner; the Welshman’s effort appeared to be going wide before a last-minute slide in at the back post from Norwood saw him narrowly evade making contact to turn the ball home.

Based on the current state of play, the next goal in the game was crucial for United and, fortunately for them, it came on 53 minutes when a recycled free-kick led to goal-scoring controversy. After Tyler Denton clipped a ball forward into the penalty area, Norwood brought the ball under his spell with what appeared to be either his shoulder or his arm before turning and placing the ball into the top corner with a high-quality finish. Despite the Boston players’ protests, the goal was given, and the Iron found themselves back within one.

As play continued at the Jakemans Community Stadium, Scunthorpe continued their push for an equaliser by creating several half-chances, continuously working the ball into good areas but ultimately failing to convert and trouble Chadwick between the Pilgrims’ posts.

With just over 80 minutes played, United’s desperation to equalise presented the chance for the hosts to add a third when a swift ball out wide allowed for substitute Ollie Bostock to drive into the penalty area from a wide angle, before looking to fire home at the near post, forcing a strong reaction stop out of Campbell, who stood firm to palm the effort clear.

Despite the Iron’s efforts, Boston marshalled the remainder of the game with relative ease, holding possession in good areas and ultimately doing enough to earn what was a vital three points following the final whistle, condemning United to a 7th league defeat in 8 games and leaving them with a mountain to climb in the relegation zone.

IRON: Campbell, Belehouan (Ashbee, 89), Evans, Beestin, Norwood (Hurst, 89), Brennan (D. Howe, 62), P. Jones (Rose, 89), Batty, Richards (Gale, 62), Starbuck, Denton

IRON SUBS: L. Jones, Clayton