Scunthorpe United v Rochdale

Saturday, August 7, 2004

Football League Two

Scunthorpe United :
Musselwhite, Crosby, Butler, Stanton, Taylor, Kell (Sparrow 86), Baraclough, Ridley, Beagrie, Bailey (Keogh 85), Hayes
Subs not used:
Evans, Jackson, Parton

Rochdale :
Edwards, Evans, Burgess, Heald, Goodall, Probets (McCourt 71), Brisco, Warner, Bertos, Holt (McGivern 86), Tait
Subs not used:
Gilks, Clarke, Townson

SULSESC REPORT

by Neil Holland at Glanford Park

SO, here we find ourselves again. New season, new faces, new optimism (or pessimism in the case of some) and a new look Honest Lawyer.

Those of you who have visited the Lawyer in the past months will know that renovations have been ongoing for some time, and in our summer absence, the work has been completed.

The SULSESC members travelling by train (i.e. Andy and Dev) avoided the roadworks on the A1, and hence had an extra couple of hours to investigate the posh new "Gallows" restaurant, which Al has installed upstairs.

Even the bar menu has had an overhaul, and it must surely be only a matter of time until Dev succumbs to the crusty goat's cheese on a Saturday lunchtime...

After a swift pint in the characterless chain pub by the ground to enable Andy to meet his Rochdale director mate, it was back to the familiar surroundings of Glanford Park.

In the baking heat, the starting eleven included four new faces in the form of old favourite Paul Musselwhite in goal; centre back Andy Crosby, signed from Oxford; midfielder Ian Baraclough from Notts County; and beanpole striker Matthew Bailey, on loan from Stockport.

The game started slowly, and it was evident that both teams were eager not to give anything away, both attempting to impose themselves with a series of niggling fouls.

After quarter of an hour, the Iron believed they had taken the initiative when Hayes was put through by Bailey, but the striker's crisp finish was ruled offside.

Chances were at a premium but half an hour in, Hayes did well to force his way into the area and pull the ball back to an unmarked Richard Kell. Unfortunately, the midfielder made a bit of a hash of it, and couldn't get the shot away.

In fact, it was to be Rochdale who drew first blood. With moments remaining before half-time, a clumsy shirt pull in the penalty area by Crosby on Holt gave the referee no option but to point to the spot.

New Zealand international Leo Bertos stepped up to blast the penalty past Musselwhite and give the Dale what would surely be a half-time lead.

The Iron did their best to get back on level terms before the break, Hayes forcing Rochdale's veteran 'keeper Edwards to push the ball into the path of the on-rushing Taylor but, under pressure from a defender, the winger could only steer his instinctive shot wide of the post, and the Iron did indeed go in a goal down.

After the break, Scunthorpe steadily stamped their influence on the game, and it was no surprise when they eventually got back on level terms. Beagrie's cross eluded everyone in the six-yard box, and dropped to an unmarked Cleveland Taylor at the far post. The midfielder was getting a fair bit of stick from the Dale fans after an earlier penalty appeal, but silenced them in the best way with a crisp volley which flew into the net.

Five minutes later, the Iron took the lead. A right wing corner from Baraclough found its way into the six-yard box where Hayes hooked the ball home round a defender.

Rochdale appeared to run out of steam, and United showed some good touches before putting a gloss on the scoreline in the final minute.

Andy Keogh, on loan from Leeds, and a second-half substitute for Bailey, picked up the ball on the halfway line, and as everyone screamed for him to take it to the corner, he picked out fellow substitute Matt Sparrow in acres of space on the left hand side.

The midfielder decided things were too easy, and waited until he was being closed down by two defenders before firing past Edwards to send the home fans home with their optimism intact.

All in all, it was an encouraging performance for the Iron. Crosby looks to be a decent signing, and with Ridley and Stanton both having solid games at full-back, the defence looks in a lot better shape than it finished last term.

My man of the match, however, would have to be Paul Hayes who worked tirelessly, running down a couple of lost causes and generally looking lively.

I still have certain reservations about the midfield, but on this performance, hopefully we'll prove a few pundits wrong who have us down for another relegation struggle...