Scunthorpe United v Bristol C

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Football League One

Scunthorpe United :
Evans, Byrne (Stanton 45), Hinds, Foster, Rose (Williams 45), Taylor, Goodwin (Torpey 70), MacKenzie, Sparrow, Sharp, Johnson
Subs not used:
Musselwhite, Crosby

Bristol C :
Basso, Orr, Carey, Fontaine, Woodman, Scott Brown (M) (Wilkshire 72), Skuse, Noble, Murray, Stewart (Cotterill 21), Brooker (Green 88)
Subs not used:
Phillips, Russell

SULSESC REPORT

by Dave Pratt at Glanford Park

A RARE opportunity to attend a home midweek match meant that, exactly 14 days after providing the report for the away game at Ashton Gate, I was writing the equivalent for the home ‘leg’, thus providing, in true Bob Dook fashion, the chance for various non-PC comments about “a pair of Bristols”.

The match itself could probably be summed up in one word, “dire”, but in the true spirit of professional Iron Filings reporting, I’ll attempt to convey an impression of what took place, tongue in cheek, in the style of ‘Mr. Cliché Man’.

The buzz around the ground prior to kick-off, on a cold, unwelcoming night in the industrial wastelands of North Lincolnshire, was a long way from that regularly experienced outside the San Siro, but the Iron faithful arrived in their hoardes, ever-optimistic.

The same could be said of the two coach-loads of City fans who had made the long trek from the west country; their cider-induced comments of optimism reverberating around Glanford Park as they disembarked, clad in their red-and-white favours.

It took some time for either side to get into their stride, but City enjoyed the best of the first-half, their opening chance arriving on eight minutes, from a direct free kick, taken by Noble. His rasping shot, from 25 yards, blasted into a stout Iron wall, with his follow-up effort being hooked well-wide.

Their second effort, on 14 minutes, saw City’s skipper, Steve Brooker, lash a shot wide of the post, when well-placed.

Despite having much of the play, and pinning City back in their own half, United were not really creating chances, being limited mainly to long-range attempts on goal. The home side’s first chance, with their first real attack, being on 18 minutes, when on-loan full back, Michael Rose, sliced a drive wide of Basso’s far post.

On 21 minutes, the lively Marcus Stewart was forced to retire, sadly limping off the pitch with a groin injury. This loss only spurred the visitors on. They continued to press forward and in the 27th minute Craig Skuse’s bullet header was bravely headed off the line by Cliff Byrne (or Matt Sparrow according to the BCFC match report!).

Three minutes later, Cotterill lunged forward onto Fontaine’s flick, only to see his effort go narrowly over the bar. The Welsh international, however, didn’t have to wait long to make the breakthrough, as he capitalised on some slack defending in the Iron defence. Foster and the Iron ‘keeper Evans collided on the edge of the box, and both could only watch in dismay as he calmly slotted the ball into an empty net.

The Iron finished the half strongly, but stoic defending by the visitors kept them at bay.

The Iron came out of the blocks flying after the interval, having made two changes, and no doubt a word or plate or two from manager Brian Laws. Almost immediately they nearly equalised, Billy Sharp getting onto the end of a Stanton cross, and forcing an outstanding save from Adriano Basso (or heading his cross straight at Basso, according to the aforementioned BCFC match report). Tommy Johnson came even closer on 54 minutes, with his audacious, clever turn-and-shot beating Basso all ends up, but loping narrowly wide of the ‘keeper’s left-hand post (or the Brazilian goalkeeper pulling off another good stop to deny…).

The Iron manager then played his last throw of the dice, bringing on Steve Torpey to face his previous club. Throwing caution to the wind, the home side played three up front, desperately seeking a much-needed equaliser.

City, however, weathered the storm and frustrated their opponents, relying on the counter-attack. It was from such a break that the Robins scored the second killer goal, Brooker sending Murray clear to caress the ball into the bottom corner, beating the hapless Evans.

The three points were now safely on their way back to Bristol, with the ecstatic visiting fans on cloud nine. Gary Johnson’s men showed true grit and determination to take the points, whilst the home side never got going, as the visitors defended stoutly and broke dangerously on the counter-attack.

This defeat leaves Scunthorpe in trouble, being dragged even closer into the mire of a potential relegation dogfight.