Freddie Ladapo goal gives Town a deserved win
Scunthorpe United: Luke Daniels, Murray Wallace, David Mirfin, Stephen Dawson (c), Kevin van Veen (Paddy Madden 59), Josh Morris, Neal Bishop, Tom Hopper (Ivan Toney 59), Harry Toffolo, Duane Holmes, Levi Sutton (Craig Davies 80)Subs: Joe Anyon, Scott Wiseman, Charlie Goode, Jamie Ness
Town: Jayson Leutwiler, Joe Riley, Mat Sadler, Shaun Whalley, Abu Ogogo (c), Junior Brown, Gary Deegan, Freddie Ladapo (Adam El-Abd, 83) Aristote Nsiala, Alex Rodman (AJ Leitch-Smith 89), Tyler Roberts ( Louis Dodds 79)
Subs: Mark Halstead, Bryn Morris, Ryan Yates, Ryan McGivern
Referee: Brett Huxtable
Assistants: Craig Taylor and Wayne Grunnill
Fourth Official: Garreth Thodes
Attendance: 4,367
Paul Hurt makes the one change with Freddie Ladapo coming into replace Stefan Payne who picked up a foot injury in last weeks win over Bury. On the bench is a return from injury for AJ Leitch-Smith who has been out of action for around six weeks while Stephen Humphrys is missing with illness.
Town had a good sight of goal early on after Shaun Whalley was fouled and Town won a free-kick, Riley floated the ball into the United box and Sadler had got up well and got his header in on goal but Daniels was in the right place to collect the ball.
Scunthorpe had a great chance to take the lead after Morris drove in a good free-kick, Bishop was there with a glancing header from close range but Leutwiler was there with a good block and then Wallace put the rebound wide of the target.
Tyler Roberts did well out wide to nick the ball and then set Whalley away, he powered down the middle of the field and on towards goal, he road the challenges and in the end was fouled on the edge of the box. Rodman and Riley were over the ball and it was Rodman who tried his luck but the wall did it's job and then again for the rebound from Rodman.
It was turning into a good attacking game and Town were doing well around the Scunthorpe goal, the ball was played into Ladapo who had found space in the box, he held it up well and then set it for Roberts who went to ground under the challenge but ref Huxtable was on the spot and didn't see enough for a penalty and Scunthorpe cleared their lines.
The weather was pretty awful with rain and cold winds but both teams were putting in good attacking displays and looking to play quick passing football.
Town were creating chances and were looking to keep the pressure on the home side, Ladapo found the space in the box to turn his marker and then fire in a low shot but it lacked the power to trouble Daniels. Then minutes later more good work from Rodman saw him play the ball infield to set-up Riley who fired in a long range effort that zipped just wide of the target.
Town's first yellow card of the game came just before the 40 minute mark, Town were pushing and probing looking for the opening, Riley pushed it forward and then Nsiala slid in to tackle, the ball free again and again Nsiala slid in but the ref saw this as a foul on Toffolo and produced a yellow card for Toto.
Half-time: 0-0
Scunthorpe were putting the pressure on after the restart but the Town defence was doing it’s job, Sadler made two important blocks on the edge of the box and then when the ball dropped to Morris he fired it over the bar.
Town had a good shout for a penalty 10 minutes into the half, Riley broke forward and played it to Roberts with his back to goal, he laid it off for Riley and he drove for goal and into the box, he was clearly shoved in the back and went to ground but ref Huxtable was close by and saw nothing wrong with the challenge and waved play on.
Town had a good chance after nice work from Roberts saw him skip past his marker and feed it to Ladapo on the edge of the box, he turned sharply and then played it to Rodman, he laid it to Brown who drove round the back before firing in a low shot but Daniels was down sharply to save.
Town were looking to break quickly and Roberts received it in the halfway line, Wallace held him off but the ref played the advantage and Town looked to build but when play broke down ref Huxtable pulled Wallace and showed him the yellow card.
Town got their noses in front on 76 minuted after some great link up work between the forwards, the ball was played to Ladapo on the halfway line, he took it down and then played it out to the left where Roberts had found space, he drove for the byline and turned his marker before cutting inside and then setting the ball up for Ladapo and he fired home to put Town in front.
Moments later Town had another good chance after Whalley played a lovely ball into the run of Ogogo who had gone down the middle, he was in behind the defence and fired in a low shot but Daniels was equal to it and the chance was gone.
With just over 10 minutes of the half remaining Paul Hurst made his first change of the game with Louis Dodds coming on to replace Tyler Roberts.
Scunthorpe made their final change with right-back Levi Sutton coming off to be replaced by forward Craig Davies, as the home side looked to get something from the game.
Town were still looking to counter and get at the home side and Whalley got in down the right, he continued his run towards goal and then fired in a good looking shot but it was just over the bar.
Scunthorpe looked like they would level the scores when the ball was crossed into the Town box and there was Craig Davies, he put a header in that looked goal bound but somehow Leutwiler sprung across his box to pull off a world class save.
There was 5 minutes of added time at the end but Town did the hard work and game management needed to see out the game and pick up an important 3 points and end Scunthorpe's 26 game unbeaten home record.
Full-Time: 0-1