The Iron’s Under-18 side were defeated 2-1 away at Lincoln City on Tuesday morning, despite a positive and largely dominant display.
Kane Bartholomew's goal looked to have earned the Iron a point, which would have been the least they deserved, only for the Imps to strike once more to take all three at the Priory City of Lincoln Academy.
Despite the result, Academy Manager Tony Daws was more than pleased with what his side had to offer, with one under-15, one under-16, seven under-17s and only two under-18s in the side - one of the youngest sides United have fielded.
Lincoln struck first after eight minutes following a right-winged cross to convert the opener and, despite a number of promising attacks from the Scunthorpe youngsters, the Imps would take that advantage into the interval.
The equaliser did arrive on 68 minutes through Bartholomew, one of only two second-year scholars to feature, when he saw his left-footed corner curl into the top corner of the net, leaving the Lincoln goalkeeper with no chance.
Seven minutes later though, City reestablished their advantage following a throw-in down the left wing. The cross came towards the far post, with the forward well-positioned to convert the chance.
There were other opportunities for the Iron to score on the day, with the forwards all breaching the Imps backline at some point. In good positions to shoot, the final efforts were either wide or saved by the goalkeeper, with the fine margins in and around both penalty areas the difference between the two sides.
Daws said: "We played well and I was very pleased with the performance. We played some good football in the philosophy and the manner in which we try and develop the players. We dominated for most of the game, in terms of possession, and controlled the tempo and the state of the game. We were always pushing and probing.
"We're in that transition period now, where most of the second years aren't playing in the games anymore and we're playing the younger players as part of their long term development."