Scunthorpe United v Port Vale

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Football League One

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Mulligan, Hinds, Foster (Crosby 44), Williams, Taylor, Sparrow, Baraclough, Morris (Keogh 84), Torpey (McBreen 84), Sharp
Subs not used:
Lillis, Ridley

Port Vale :
Goodlad, Abbey, Pilkington, McGregor, Miles (Smith 61), Moore (Husbands 79), Sonner (Harsley 70), Whitaker, Humphreys, Sodje, Constantine
Subs not used:
Anyon, Walker

SULSESC REPORT

by Martyn Girdham at Glanford Park

WEAKENING September sun told me the long Lazy Days of Summer, just experienced for the first time this Millennium, had all but ended.

The Radio advised me I should be taking the Road to Mannaberg Way (Mandalay sic, okay Glanny Park) to see if our boys would come out Supreme and Port Vale's Valiant start to the season Come Undone. Years of supporting this wonderful team of ours are guaranteed to make me Old Before I Die, but I have No Regrets, it seems an Eternity since a home win but what the heck, I will Let You Iron Entertain Me and as for the home win, I've Been Expecting You.

I searched for Robbie on the team sheet but the nearest thing was our own Marcus listed at number 17 in the charts. King Brian never fails to surprise us in his team selection and today was no exception. That often Misunderstood striker, Steve Torpey, was chosen ahead of both Andy Keogh and new boy Daniel McBreen, to partner Bill Sharp up front. What an inspired choice it would prove to be. Full marks, Brian, you got this one spot on as Torps unsettled the Vale defence and won virtually every ball in the air, setting up chance after chance for Billy.

The Port Vale defence were taking no prisoners with plenty of robust challenges flying around. They were certainly no Angels.

The game flowed with chances aplenty at both ends with ex-Iron loanee Richie Humphreys having two great efforts superbly saved by Joe Murphy. An early Billy Sharp poacher’s goal from a rebound settled Iron nerves and the chances continued to appear. A brilliant angled volley (Billy again) put United two up at the break. Don't we all know what happens next?

Well, not in this game (you get nothing for a pair! – come on, don't you watch TV?) as it was the Iron who scored the third, a deflected home debut goal from 'son of Beagrie' Ian Morris.

Game over, no Escapology for high riding Vale. Torps came off late on to an amazing ovation from all corners (well, three anyway) of Glanford Park. What a difference a day makes!

Having said that, I was assured United's oft under flak striker also had a good game v Lincoln before injury curtailed that appearance. Good on yer Steve, as even the most anti-Torpey fans had to eat humble pie on this occasion.

The man of the match awards went to, not surprisingly, Billy Sharp and Torps. Billy looks good for another 'golden boot' and could have had five goals, no problem, in this game. If Bristol City can make £2 million on a raw 18-year-old in 'deadline week', what price Billy?

Don't build your hopes up, Barnsley will probably get him for £100 grand!

What else happened? Well, Steve Foster picked up the third broken nose of his career and another old Iron, Crozzer, came on to prove a rock in United's defence. Paul Harsley came on for Vale, receiving a warm reception from the Iron faithful in a dismal crowd of only 3,473.

The ref ain’t escaping either. Premier discard Andy D'Urso could have given United three pens (seriously). One of those, in the opening seconds of the second-half, was a totally blatant challenge on Sharp as he closed in on goal.

Still, a much needed three points in the locker to lift United out of the bottom four and no doubt surprise many of those present at HQ.

More of the same on Saturday v Cheltenham please.