The Iron’s Under-18 side played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Bradford City on Saturday morning in the EFL Youth Alliance League, with the game taking place at Glanford Park.
Nat Wallace and Harrison Poulter were both on the scoresheet for United, after Isaac Robinson and Ian Kamga netted for the visitors.
After just 15 minutes played in North Lincolnshire, Scunthorpe took the lead through Wallace, making good on our early spells of possession.
Operating out of a number 10 role, the 19-year-old latched onto a clever flick on from Ty Sellars-Fleming, as he raced through behind the Bradford back line to fire the Iron ahead early on.
After 33 minutes played however, the visitors levelled proceedings, with Robinson notching from distance, after Josh Murtagh’s goal-kick fell fortuitously to the forward, who pounced to equalise from range.
Josh Cunningham’s header came close as the first-half action drew to a close, with it all still to play for heading into the second period.
Just four minutes into the second half, the Bantams went ahead, with Kamga notching to make it 2-1. The 17-year-old rose highest from a corner, with Scunthorpe having to deep dig to respond.
Sellars-Fleming twice went close for United as the game edged on, shooting narrowly wide on both occasions, as we stepped up our attempts on goal.
With twenty minutes remaining at Glanford Park, the Iron drew level, with Poulter squaring things up in fine fashion.
His clever free kick from around twenty yards out was hit low and hard, as it took a slight deflection off of the Bradford wall to sneak into the bottom corner.
Cunningham again was proving a real handful for City defence to deal with aerially, rising highest to meet a corner. Only to see his effort well saved late on.
The game ended 2-2 and Professional Development Phase Coach Rob Watson praised the side's endeavour at getting back into the game after falling behind.
"I was really happy with the way the lads dug in and got a result against a really strong Bradford side, they showed superb grit and determination," he began.
"The scoreline is a fair reflection on the game and I’m overall really pleased with some of the aspects of our play. Especially Nat’s goal, as that’s something we have worked on in training to help benefit our attacking phases.
"We’ll keep moving and these boys really give it their all week, so they are a testament to the club for their hard work."
The Iron return to action on Saturday morning, facing off against Harrogate Town away from home, in a 11:00am kick-off in the EFL Youth Alliance League.
IRON: Murtagh (Oxborough, 45); Cunningham, Abraham, Pike; Burden-Whittelton, Robertson, Cribb, Strouther; Wallace, Poulter, Fleming-Sellars.
IRON SUBS NOT USED: Hill, Larkin and Dickinson.