Scunthorpe United v Stockport County

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Football League One

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Byrne, Mirfin, Pearce, Mills, Lansbury (Odejayi 74), Togwell, McCann (Trotter 87), Hurst (Wright), Hayes, Hooper.
Subs not used:
Sparrow, Lillis.

Stockport County :
Fon Williams, Mullins, Tunnicliffe, McNeil (Thompson 74), Rose (Johnson 61), McSweeney, Raynes, Blizzard, Dicker, Rowe, O'Grady.
Subs not used:
Mainwaring, Rigby, Tansey.

OPPOSITION VIEW

FROM STOCKPORT'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE

JIM Gannon made one change for the trip to Glanford Park. Dominic Blizzard, who missed Tuesday's game at Leicester through concussion, returned in place of Matty Mainwaring.

Michael Raynes threw County a lifeline after they fell two goals behind in the opening 14 minutes.

The big defender got on the end of Michael Rose's free kick to power a header inside Joe Murphy's left-hand post after 20 minutes.

The Iron took the lead on six minutes when Henri Lansbury picked out Gary Hooper at the near post. County's summer target turned smartly and rolled the ball into the path of former Hatter Kevan Hurst who shot past Owain Fon Williams.

And Scunny doubled their advantage eight minutes later with a stunning shot by Hooper across Fon Williams.

Gannon immediately moved Matty McNeil from back to front and his physical presence began to cause the home defenders problems.

Blizzard had a chance to level on 27 minutes when he stole the ball on the edge of the box, Sam Togwell did well to get a block in.

A minute later County applied some real pressure. Johnny Mullins hit a great cross to the far post when Gary Dicker's header came off Cliff Byrne for a corner. From Blizzard's corer the ball was eventually worked back to the midfielder and, from the right touchline, he picked out Tommy Rowe who was off target.

Just after the half hour Leon McSweeney played a brilliant ball inside Byrne to Chris O'Grady. The striker cut in from the left and hit a low shot which was blocked on the line by David Murfin.

Murfin then popped up at the other end when he carelessly shot over after receiving Lansbury's pass.

The dangerous Lansbury, on loan from Arsenal, then played an inch-perfect ball to Hurst who cut inside Mullins and curled a shot just past Fon Williams' left-hand post.

O'Grady had an early chance after the break. Receiving a clever pass from Blizzard he turned and hit a low shot that Murfin blocked/

Scunny, though, were extremely compact with two banks of four protecting Murphy and chances were at a premium.

Oli Johnson came off the bench to try and provide a spark but County were unable to carve out any clear chances.

Joseph Mills almost tuned Mullins' cross past his own keeper and Raynes forced Murphy into a save but that was the closest the Hatters came to an equaliser.

At the other end Fon Williams had a relatively trouble free time as well. Hooper could have killed the game off when he missed the target at the far post on 77 minutes.

And deep into added time, with County pressing, the former Southend striker ran clear from his own half but Fon Williams denied him with a fine save.