REPORT: Iron (4) 2 - 2 (3) Derby County U21's

With their winning start to the National League Cup campaign still intact, Scunthorpe would come into tonight’s encounter with Derby County looking to make it three from three in the competition, with the possibility of advancing to the knockout stages based on other results.

In terms of the United team selection for the encounter, it was a highly rotated XI for Andy Butler’s side, who adopted a change in formation that saw Jean Belehouan return to the middle of the defence upon returning from injury. Elsewhere, a first start in Claret and Blue for Stockport County loanee James Bailey, as well as the long-awaited return of midfielder Jordan Richards, who started his first competitive game since August after a cameo appearance at the weekend.

When proceedings were set underway at the Attis Arena, it would be the Iron who started the brighter of the two sides, taking the advantage within the opening six minutes through James Gale. After an initial cross into the area was dealt with by the Derby defence, it wouldn’t be enough to clear the danger as the ball fell back into the path of Gale, who produced an incredible acrobatic effort to loop the ball over the scrambling Nicholas Blokapic and into the top corner.

After controlling the majority of possession and limiting their opponents to very little in terms of chance, the next chance of the game would actually result in the second goal of the night for United, and it would be one of the most remarkable goals The Attis Arena had ever seen from Jordan Richards. After a short corner routine resulted in Joe Starbuck whipping the ball into the area for Jordan Richards to attack, he unbelievably flicked the ball over the goalkeeper with sensational technique and into the far corner for 2-0.

With the visitors chasing the game for the majority of the first half, they would begin their search for an equaliser in the period’s closing stages when striker Justin Oguntolu was presented a golden chance to pull a goal back. Breaking through the United backline to latch onto a loose ball that had cannoned off Jean Belehouan, Oguntolu would look to place the ball beyond the onrushing Louis Jones but misplaced his effort by curling it wide of the mark.

Following this, the half-time break would bring to an end a controlled opening period from United, who would be looking to replicate in the second half following a number of half-time alterations.

Scunthorpe’s first chance of the new half would come for substitute Declan Howe, who in his first action on his return from injury, snuck in to intercept a back pass to Blokapic from a Derby midfielder, taking the ball wide of the target before setting himself for a shot, looking to whip an effort towards the far corner that evaded the upright on its way behind for a goal kick.

The encounter’s next notable moment would see Derby pull a goal back as they took advantage of the space at the back post to allow half-time sub-Cameron Wilson to slide home, lurking in at the back stick to meet a low cross that had evaded all attempts to clear, reducing the deficit to one.

As United continued to monitor the game with their reduced lead, they would have another chance to extend their tally for the night when Howe caused yet another problem for the Rams defence. Breaking down the right flank after a smart touch to set him clear, Howe would have options in the centre, opting to try and catch the goalkeeper off guard with a low drive towards the bottom corner that forced the former Peterborough shot stopper into a smart low save.

In the five minutes that followed this chance, Derby would go on to equalise with an essential carbon copy of the first as the Rams collected a second ball and advanced into the final third, working the ball out wide before sliding it across the area and into Wilson at the back post, who made no mistake in getting his double.

Now with the scores level and a bonus point up for grabs in the penalty shootout as per competition rules, both the Rams and Scunthorpe would miss their opening two penalties before converting their next two. After Joe Starbuck missed United’s third, Louis Jones would come to the rescue to save the encounter with a save to send it to sudden death, which United would take advantage of as Keilen Robinson skied his penalty for the visitors before Gale put the tie to bed with a well-placed spot kick.

IRON: L. Jones, Belehouan (Shipstone, 45), Parker (Brennan, 20), Ashbee, Hurst (D. Howe, 45), Richards (Batty, 62), Bailey, Starbuck, Gale, Denton (Sellars-Fleming, 62), Barrows

IRON SUBS: Campbell, Norwood