REPORT: Boston United 1-3 Iron

With both sides in today’s encounter struggling to establish form in the Enterprise National League, Scunthorpe would travel to Lincolnshire neighbours Boston United this afternoon for an Emirates FA Cup tie at the Jakemans Community Stadium.

With regard to United’s line-up for the fixture, manager Andy Butler would maintain his team’s shape from the National League Cup, making several changes to the starting XI from the previous league defeat at AFC Fylde, with central defenders Jean Belehouan and Will Evans inducted back into the squad as well as the returning Tyler Denton at left wing-back. Elsewhere, after several lively cameos in recent weeks, versatile forward James Gale was selected to start alongside James Norwood up front.

The hosts got proceedings underway with hopes of making a strong start to proceedings, putting the Iron under some early pressure, which was well marshalled by the Scunthorpe defence, with some commanding defending from Belehaoun in particular up against the Pilgrims star man Tom Cursons.

With ten minutes played, it was United who had the first chance of the game to impose themselves on their opponents when Jordan Richards was fouled 25 yards from the target. Standing over the free-kick would be Richards’ midfield partner, Dan Batty, who looked to whip the ball over the wall and across Louis Chadwick, but his effort would be deflected by the Boston wall, diverting the ball away from the already committed goalkeeper and into the top corner to give the Iron the bit of luck they needed and to put them ahead.

Following the opening goal Scunthorpe would proceed to push towards a second, very nearly doing so when Norwood showed his experience in the penalty area with a remarkable half volley to turn home Joe Strabuck’s cross into the area, rifling the ball into the top corner for what would’ve been a quick fire double if not for the intervention of the linesman who raised his flag for offside.

With just under half an hour played in Lincolnshire, United were still in control of the fixture and would have a golden chance to extend their advantage when some intelligent pressing from Hurst who put goalkeeper Chadwick under pressure from beneath a high ball, forcing the keeper to drop the ball into the path of Gale in the area who’s headed attempt dropped just wide of the mark.

As half-time approached, the Iron would have arguably their best chance yet of extending the lead when a sustained period of play saw Evans receive the ball in a wide channel, showing shades of a wing-back as he whipped a lovely low ball into the box for Norwood to attack, heading the ball down into the feet of the unsuspecting Belehouan in the middle of the area, who tried to turn the ball home with a side-footed shot towards the bottom corner that was somehow turned clear with a sensational save from Chadwick.

With essentially the first-half’s last action, Butler’s boys would end a so far dominant display in the best way possible as a well-played advantage by the referee allowed for a Denton cross to be swept away by the Boston defence, falling back into the path of the cunningly placed Gale, who had but to turn and delicately place the ball past Chadwick before celebrating in front of his former club’s supporters.

This would put United in good shape at half-time with a two-goal lead, and when the two sides returned for the second half, they would be forced into early defensive duties as the hosts' formation change seemed to turn the tide for a short period.

Within the opening minutes of the new half, Maison Campbell would be called into action for essentially the first time in the game when he was forced to deny Tyrell Agyemang, who advanced into the Scunthorpe penalty area before releasing a snapshot towards goal that the shot-stopper turned round the post with an instinctive reaction save.

For the next 20 minutes of action, the game would be turned into an all-out scrap as the sides battled it out for the all-important next goal. However, it would be Scunthorpe who eventually managed to come out on top of the two sides as several subs brought fresh legs to the attack and began to break down the Pilgrims’ back line once again.

With just under 70 minutes on the clock, the breakthrough and third that the Iron desired would finally come as a result of persistent attacks and crosses, as Batty regained possession in a wide area after his initial ball in had been cleared away; his second bite of the cherry would be pinpointed to the head of Stan Ashbee at the far post, who nodded the ball across goal, forcing a save out of Chadwick on the line, but he could only palm the ball as far as Belehouan, who came steaming in to tap home for his first goal of the season.

In the minutes that followed, Scunthorpe would well and truly look to put the game to bed as a well-weighted ball in behind the Boston defence allowed for Welshman Pat Jones to race through on goal, beating Jake Rooney in a foot race towards the penalty area before looking to slot the ball beneath the onrushing goalkeeper, driving the ball into Chadwick, who just about managed to turn he ball round the post with a crucial save.

With 87 minutes on the clock and Boston looking for a lifeline in the fixture, they would be granted just that and something to cheer about as Scunthorpe’s clean sheet was snatched away from them by who else but Lennell John-Lewis, as the shop did as he so often does against Scunthorpe by waiting patiently for the chance to arrive in the penalty area, turning the ball past the helpless Campbell to reduce the deficit.

As additional time dragged on with the scoreline at 3-1, United were being forced to defend their advantage in the latter stages as Boston continued to flood forward and they very nearly found a way to get a second goal to make it a hairy end to the fixture when a lofted ball into the area was met by former Derby County defender Jake Rooney at the far post, who was well placed to nod the ball towards the target, making time stand still as the effort trickled across the face of goal and behind for a goal kick.

Following this chance, referee Darren Drysdale would bring the game to an end with a final sounding of his whistle, granting United a vital victory on the road that sees them advance to the next round of the competition, with the draw due to take place on Monday.

IRON: Campbell, Belehouan, Evans, Norwood, Ashbee, Batty, Hurst, Richards, Starbuck, Gale, Denton

IRON SUBS: L. Jones, Brennan, P. Jones, Sellars-Fleming, Butterfield, Clayton, Barrows

ATTENDANCE: 1,708 (395 Away)

REFEREE: Darren Drysdale