Match Report: Scunthorpe United 1 Yeovil Town 1

A late equaliser saw Yeovil Town have to settle for a point from a trip to Scunthorpe United on the opening game of the season.

After an even first half, the Glovers took the lead when winger Mason Obeng stroked the ball home three minutes in to the second half.

Scunthorpe, who finished in the National League play-offs last season, pressed hard for an equaliser and eventually found one when substitute Luke Brennan lifted the ball in to the net with a minute of normal time playing.

Despite the tinge of disappointment at not being able to hold out for three points, there was plenty to feel positive from Yeovil about in their first competitive outing of the season.

First half

Manager Billy Rowley gave a league debut to nine players with captain Luke McCormick and Ryan Jones the only members of the starting XI who were at the club last season. One of the recent arrivals Slavi Spasov was preferred to Stephen Walker up front whilst Hayden Muller started in midfield in place of Brett McGavin. Both Walker and McGavin were named among the substitutes.

The opening 15 minutes did not create a chance worthy of a mention but a definite desire from both sides to play the way a beautiful surface at the Attis Arena deserved. The joy Yeovil found came mostly down the right side with Archie Davies delivering a couple of crosses from the box and a jinking run from Ryan Jones leading to an effort which Scunthorpe keeper Louis Jones needed to be sharp to get down low to deny.

On 33 minutes, McCormick ran on to a ball forward and looked to be through on the Iron goal, but lifted his effort over the bar. The linesman flagged him as offside although the Yeovil bench’s protests would suggest the call was closer than it looked from the away end.

The first meaningful chance of the game fell to the home side a minute later. Winger Pat Jones skipped past Archie Davies and found himself one-on-one with Yeovil keeper Jos Barker who stuck a strong left hand to make an impressive stop to deny him. That save will give the young keeper huge confidence.

Then with five minutes of the first half remaining, another good chance for Scunthorpe. Declan Howe got a ball in from the left, it clipped off the heel of Joe Gubbins and landed invitingly to Jordan Richards but his effort over the bar.

The half-time whistle sounded with the home side having had the better of the opportunities to go ahead, but Yeovil acquitting themselves well. There’s definitely a fans’ favourite being made in Jordan Norville-Williams who has not given an inch against Howe whilst Gubbins and Ben Radcliffe in the middle have managed to keep Scunthorpe danger man striker Danny Whitehall nullified.

Half-time: Scunthorpe United 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The half-time break saw Brett McGavin replace Hayden Muller in the heart of midfield.

A Ryan Jones free-kick from out in the right found its way to Mason OBENG on the far post and he was the coolest man inside the penalty area to confidently stroke Yeovil ahead. The away end of 260 travelling supporters erupted as the players celebrated in front of them.

Just five minutes after going ahead, McCormick found himself through on goal again but (again) was denied by the offside flag. The skipper, much like the visiting bench in the first half, had serious questions about the call. VAR might have had a different opinion – but we don’t want that at this level of the game…….right? Soon after that Ryan Jones forced his namesake Louis Jones in the Scunthorpe goal in to a fine stop.

As we reach the middle of the second half, the home side are turning up the pressure as they search for an equaliser. Archie Davies does well to block an effort from Pat Jones and Ryan Jones took a heavy blow scrambling a Tyler Denton effort off the line from a corner. Jones needed to come off and was replaced by Johl Powell whilst James Daly replaced Slavi Spasov in the forward line with 64 minutes played.

Scunthorpe made changes on their own bringing on winger Luke Brennan, experienced midfielder Jacob Butterfield and striker James Gale as they looked for an equaliser. On 70 minutes, Whitehall had his first opportunity but his header from a Butterfield free-kick was blocked by a Yeovil shirt. The Glovers are standing up well to intense pressure and defensively looking impressive.

With 20 minutes left to play, Billy Rowley made his final two substitutions of the permitted five changes and it is a defensive change. McCormick is removed in place of Joy Mukena whilst Jack Kingdon replaces Archie Davies in the right wing-back position.

In the 73rd minute, a long ball forward from Barker is helped on by Obeng in to the path of James Daly. The substitutes powered in to the box and was only denied by a superb tackle from Tyler Denton. The Iron defender picks up an injury for his troubles.

Scunthorpe were dominating possession and continuing to press and we found ourselves dropping deep to try and repel the danger. Then with a minute of normal time, Joe Gubbins tries to clear a ball in from the left but can only as get it as far as Luke BRENNAN on the left left of the box and he lifts the ball over the head of Jos Barker to snatch a draw.

Full time: Scunthorpe United 1 Yeovil Town 1

Substitutes: Brett McGavin (for Hayden Muller, 46), Johl Powell (for Ryan Jones, 64), James Daly (for Slavi Spasov, 64), Joy Mukena (for Luke McCormick, 70), Jack Kingdon (for Archie Davies, 70), Jack Lennon (not used), Stephen Walker (nor used).

Scunthorpe United: Louis Jones, Ross Barrows, Alfie Beestin (for James Gale, 64), Tyler Denton (for Branden Horton, 76), Will Evans, Callum Howe, Declan Howe (for Luke Brennan, 64), Pat Jones (for Kyle Hurst, 83), Jordan Richards, Joe Rowley (for Jacob Butterfield, 64), Danny Whitehall.