Scunthorpe United v Bradford

Saturday, December 31, 2005

Football League One

Scunthorpe United :
Evans, Byrne, Hinds, Crosby, Baraclough, Taylor (Johnson 85), MacKenzie, Goodwin (Sparrow 65), Beagrie, Sharp, Keogh (Torpey 66)
Subs not used:
Musselwhite, Butler

Bradford :
Ricketts, Edghill (Schumacher 24), Wetherall, Bower, Taylor, Petta, Kearney, Bridge-Wilkinson, Emanuel, Windass (Claridge 59), Cadamarteri (Brown 86)
Subs not used:
Howarth, Stewart

SULSESC REPORT

by Bob Dook at Glanford Park

NOT content with lining me up for the SUFC match programme 'fanfare' piece, your club secretary also asked me to write a match report for our match against Bradford.

While I took great pride in 'representing' SULSESC members in the club programme, I can only apologise in advance for some memory loss regarding the match. Since I was asked to write a report some six weeks after the event, I fear most of the script will be rambling garbage.

For regular readers of Iron Filings match reports and mine in particular, nothing will appear out of the ordinary, except for a lack abuse aimed at the northeast and Darlington in particular. However, for you newcomers who are expecting something lucid, succinct and concise, please look away.

I had predicted a draw in the match programme and while ultimately that was the final result, I would point out that I had us down for a scoring draw. I felt we would see an open game, exciting to watch, lots of attacking football, plenty of shots on goal and a point each. And that's what we got. This was far from a boring 0-0 draw.

The Iron should have had the game wrapped up in the first-half. Both strikers missed good chances. Sharp should have done much better from a Taylor cross, striking the ball just over the top and Keogh shot poorly at Ricketts from the edge of the box, allowing the goalie a comfortable save.

Beagrie had a fine left foot shot, which Ricketts saved at the foot of his post. United were in control, but lacked the finishing. Bradford looked a neat, strong side, often passing well and getting into promising positions, only to be let down by poor shooting. Dean Windass came closest to scoring, reaching a cross to the far post, only to see his header intercepted at the last by Cliff Byrne. Quick shake of hand to recognise Byrne's wonderful piece of defending was a piece of sportsmanship not often seen from Big Wind.

The second-half was pretty much in our favour, but the Bantams looked very capable of getting the winner too. Mackenzie and a good section of the support thought he should have had a penalty, when charged away in the area. I thought it would have been a harsh decision on the defender. Our best effort came near the end, when sub Sparrow toe-poked a scrambled effort against a post. A good attempt, considering he was totally unbalanced and falling away.

Overall, this was a good game to watch, a good performance from the Iron and another point. Beagrie attempted a single-handed beating of his old club and was our man-of-the-match. I picked out Danny Cadamarteri as Bradford's best performer. Some of you may have seen Danny around Scunny recently. Nothing to do with the Iron, except that someone who is associated with the club is the daughter of a friend of mine and Danny may have taken a shine to her. Mind you, I wouldn't mind Danny Cadamarteri on our books. Playing just behind our front two. With spring on its way, who knows what will blossom?