REPORT: Iron 3-1 Solihull Moors

Following a disappointing start to the campaign by the Iron’s standards, which saw them with just a single point on the board from their opening three games, they would have major hopes of a first three points this evening when they welcomed a Solihull Moors side who were sure to be just as disappointed with their opening three fixtures, sitting bottom of the Enterprise National League table.

Iron manager Andy Butler would make five alterations ahead of the encounter. These changes included an enforced change in central defence as Cal Howe is set to be sidelined with a knee injury for a period of time and was therefore replaced by Ross Barrows. Elsewhere, Tyler Denton returns from injury to the wing-back position in place of Joe Starbuck, and Jordan Richards returns to the heart of the United midfield. Finally, a double alteration to Scunthorpe's forward line as Hull City loanee Hugh Parker and in-form striker James Gale were elected to lead the side in attack.

When proceedings were set underway at the Attis Arena, Scunthorpe would show signs of significant improvement in the opening ten minutes, attacking with intent against the Moors who were struggling to deal with the physical partnership of Parker and Gale.

Within the opening five minutes, United would have a promising chance to open the scoring when Parker chased down a long hopeful ball in behind the Moors defence, forcing goalkeeper Max Metcalfe to race off his line and punch the ball into the path of Jacob Butterfield 20 yards from goal, who volleyed the bouncing ball back where it came from, over the head of the retreating Metcalfe but just narrowly wide of the target as it dropped beyond the post.

With 15 minutes on the clock and the Iron in control of the fixture, Gale would continue to threaten the Moors defence, especially when he picked up possession on the edge of the visitors’ area, controlling the ball before darting to his right and smashing an effort towards the top corner that looked to have Metcalfe well beaten, although it crashed into the side netting.

Despite Scunthorpe’s obvious control, the Moors would begin to establish their own purple patch with a number of set-pieces that troubled the United defensive line, forcing Butler’s boys into some resilient defensive clearances, although they wouldn’t be able to defend against what happened next as the visitors levelled the scores.

Another free-kick delivery into the penalty area; the initial knockdown would be directed back across the face of goal, cutting out all the Iron defenders as it landed into the grateful path of forward Jacob Wakeling, who had but to tap home from a matter of yards to give his Solihull side the lead.

Following the opener, it almost went from bad to worse for United as Joe Sbarra was released down the left flank, bearing down on the Scunthorpe goal and forcing a brilliant reflex save out of Louis Jones who outstretched a leg to turn the ball away, but only back into the path of Sbarra who instinctively provided a wonderful flick over the head of the back tracking Jones, clipping the ball onto the crossbar in a lucky escape for Scunthorpe.

With this warning in mind, the Iron would go in immediate search of the equaliser they desperately required before the break. With some attacking persistence to keep themselves in the United final third, Gale’s high press would pave the way for Butterfield to rob possession in a promising area, chopping past his marker before lashing the ball towards the target from the edge of the box, deflecting the effort over the head of Metcalfe would could only watch as the ball dropped into the net to level the scores.

With half-time approaching and the Moors looking to re-establish their advantage, there would be one final chance before the break as some determined play from Wakeling saw him somehow steer clear of all United defenders, or be it at a wide angle, driving the ball towards the target and forcing a sensational save out of Jones, who sprang into life to palm the ball over the crossbar.

This would be the last action of the first half, with the game still open for a winner in the second period, and when the sides returned for the new half, it was the Iron who made their case to go ahead.

Within minutes of the new half, Scunthorpe would have a series of opportunities as Parker was fouled on the edge of the Moors area, presenting the chance for Butterfield to swing the ball to the back post for an Iron player to attack, allowing for the ball to fall to Joe Rowley on multiple occasions who saw his shots firstly blocked by an onrushing defender and the second comfortably saved by Metcalfe.

With 56 minutes on the clock, United would find the breakthrough they were looking for as a dangerous cross into the area dropped beautifully at the feet of Gale, who made no mistake when prodding the ball towards goal, providing a clinical finishing touch as he swept the ball beneath Metcalfe for the second.

With half an hour remaining, Scunthorpe were now finding a good tempo, attacking in search of a third to kill off the encounter. After some tremendous work from Pat Jones to wriggle free down the right, his perfectly weighted pull-back found Butterfield on the edge of the box, who beat his marker and unleashed a low driven effort towards the bottom corner that was remarkably kept out by Metcalfe, who dived down low to deny.

With Butler turning to his bench for reinforcements in an attempt to use fresh legs to try and see out a vital three points, United would be rewarded as substitute Alfie Beestin converted United’s third, collecting a second ball inside the area with his back to goal before somehow managing to sneak a low effort through a crowd of defenders and into the bottom corner, giving his team a crucial two goal cushion.

Despite the visitors enjoying the majority of the half-chances following Scunthorpe’s third, it would come to nothing more than half opportunities as the Iron defence proceeded to stand firm. The closest that the Moors would come would see Sbarra try his luck from distance, stinging the gloves of Louis Jones with a ferocious strike that was just about managed to be flicked clear by the covering defenders at the second attempt.

Following a tense six minutes of extra time that appeared to drag on, Scunthorpe were finally granted their first win of the season by referee James Westgate, who called time on a promising performance from the Iron, who, although not pretty at times, fully deserved the victory that will hopefully go on to kickstart their season.

IRON: L. Jones, Horton, Evans, Rowley, Parker (D. Howe, 64), P. Jones (Starbuck, 81), Richards, Butterfield (Beestin, 71), Gale (Hurst, 71), Denton (Belehouan, 81), Barrows

IRON SUBS: Campbell, Brennan