REPORT: Iron (4) 2-2 (5) Wolves U21's

After the Iron's defeat to Boston United at the weekend, Scunthorpe had a chance to get back to winning ways this evening and an opportunity to earn their place in the National League Cup knockout stages with a win over Premier League 2 side Wolverhampton Wanderers U21’s, although a draw could’ve been enough based on results elsewhere.

Interim management team Jacob Butterfield and Ross Barrows looked to get much-needed minutes into a number of players during the fixture, making several changes. Firstly, Louis Jones came in between the sticks to replace Maison Campbell, with a back four consisting of three changes in front of him, as Oli Rose, Stan Ashbee and Regan Clayton were all selected to start. Elsewhere, attacking midfielder Kyle Hurst started over Alfie Beestin in the Scunthorpe midfield trio and the line-up was completed with a fully rotated front three of Dec Howe, Hugh Parker and Ty Sellars-Fleming.

When proceedings were set underway at the Attis Arena, it was in fact the visitors that started the brighter of the two sides, pressing high up onto the Scunthorpe defence and getting their rewards inside the opening five minutes with a goal. After spraying possession out to the right flank, winger Enso Gonzalez took the ball in his stride and chopped inside onto his left foot before whipping a lovely, finessed effort into the top corner to make it 1-0.

Despite finding themselves behind in the game, it wouldn’t take long for United to respond with a goal of their own just a matter of minutes later through Hull City loanee Parker. After some patient build-up play in the final third, the ball would find its way out to Clayton on the left-hand side, giving the West Ham academy product enough time to deliver an inch-perfect cross to the far post where Parker was lurking to drive the ball home for 1-1.

The next chance of the game would fall to the Iron, who had been starting to find their stride now they were back on level terms. After Dan Batty’s initial corner was cleared out to the edge of the area, Scunthorpe would recycle possession back to the edge of the box, laying it off to Jordan Richards in space to whip the ball towards the far corner with an effort that narrowly missed the target.

As play continued, United looked to threaten again from set-pieces with 25 minutes on the clock when another dangerous cross from Batty was perfectly weighted to find the run of centre-back Ashbee, who went charging through to attack the cross, directing an effort towards the target that was somehow blocked on the line by a crowd of Wolves bodies, sweeping the ball clear of the danger area.

After a quiet end to the first period, Scunthorpe would return to the field of play looking to assert themselves on their opponents; however, things didn’t go to plan to start the new period as Wolves’ 10-million-pound wide man added his second of the night.

Upon manufacturing the chance himself, Gonzalez made a charge forward into the United box, positioning himself in a dangerous area to receive a cross from striker Dani Angel, cushioning the ball with a deft touch before spinning and lashing the ball into the bottom corner, leaving Jones with no chance as the away side regained their lead.

In similar fashion to the first half, the Iron weren’t behind for long as Dec Howe emphatically levelled the scores, latching onto a delicate ball in behind the Wolves defence before driving towards the target, catching goalkeeper Josh Gracey off guard with a remarkable strike into the top corner that clipped the upright on its way in.

With 20 minutes remaining for United to find a winner to secure their position in the quarter-finals, a fantastic chance went to waste for second-half substitute Luke Brennan who, in one of his first actions of the night, was well positioned to receive the ball from Parker, opting to whip the ball towards the far corner with an effort that Gracey could only watch as it nestled just inches wide of the far post.

Despite the Iron being firmly in charge of proceedings for the remainder of normal time, there was a chance for the visitors to take the lead for the third time on the night through attacking midfielder Min Kyu Ji, who did extremely well to work the ball past the recovering Joe Starbuck, leaving the Scunthorpe defender on the floor as he looked to whip the ball towards the far post if not for the intervention of Ashbee, who provided a crucial block to turn the ball behind.

Following the full-time whistle that had already seen Scunthorpe confirm their position in the knockout stages due to a late goal for Derby County U21’s against Wealdstone, the game would go to a penalty shootout in order to decide who would take home a bonus point.

With the shootout tied 2-2 after the opening four spot kicks, the balance would swing in Scunthorpe’s favour when Louis Jones made an exquisite save to his right in order to push away Makenzie Bradbury’s penalty. Following this penalty save, United would be presented the chance to win the game when Alfie Beestin stepped up to the plate, only to be denied by Gracey with a low stop.

With Wolves converting their 6th penalty, the tie would be put to bed after yet more goalkeeping heroics from Gracey who made a remarkable save to deny Clayton from the spot, pushing the effort onto the crossbar in order to ensure that the bonus point returned to the Midlands with the visitors.

IRON: L. Jones, Rose, Evans (Belehouan, 45), D. Howe (P. Jones, 63), Parker (Starbuck, 81), Ashbee, Sellars-Fleming (Brennan, 63), Batty (Beestin, 63), Hurst, Richards, Clayton

IRON SUBS: Campbell, Denton