Scunthorpe recorded their first ever goals and win at Aggborough but were helped by some sloppy defending by
the home team who made them look better than they really were.
Harriers introduced Wes Morgan for his Football League debut following his midweek loan move from Nottingham
Forest. The youngster slotted into a changed back four and made his presence felt within the first ten
minutes with a crunching tackle on Wayne Graves that left the Scunthorpe player requiring treatment for several
minutes.
The opening exchanges of the game were cagey with both teams being evenly matched and treating each other
with respect. The first real goalscoring chances fell to the home team, early on Sam Shilton guided
JJ Melligan's low cross from the right into the side netting and after 23 minutes, Shilton's corner from the
right was met at the far post by the head of Danny Williams who was unable to get over the ball and directed
it just over. The game began to get scrappy and then Scunthorpe took the lead after 31 minutes, Peter
Beagrie chased a long ball from Graves on the left, turned Adie Smith inside out and then hit a blistering
shot from the corner of the penalty area into the far corner.
Seconds later a setback became a disaster for Harriers as their defence went missing again, a Paul Hayes
cross from the left found Matt Sparrow at the far post and his shot was only parried by Fraser Digby into
the path of Martin Carruthers who was left with an easy tap-in. Harriers struggled to get back into
their stride before the interval and had to settle for the two goal deficit at the break.
After the break the home team came out fired up to get back into the game and immediately played better than
they had at any time in the opening period. Top scorer Bo Henriksen got them back into the game after
49 minutes sweeping in JJ Melligan's low cross from the right for his 18th goal of the season.
Harriers battled well to try and force an equaliser, Henriksen had their best chance turning well inside
the penalty area but didn't hit his shot hard enough and Tom Evans in the Iron goal saved easily.
Against the run of play Scunthorpe scored the third goal to end the match. Craig Hinton was undone by
the pace of Andy Parton who left him trailing, Danny Williams challenged the Scunthorpe man as he ran into
the penalty area, bringing him down from behind, and referee Williamson had no hesitation in awarding a
penalty. Beagrie took the kick and although Digby guessed correctly and dived to his right he was unable
to keep the well struck shot out. From then on Harriers were never likely to get back into the game
and Scunthorpe held on for a deserved victory.
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