Scunthorpe United v Huddersfield

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Football League One

Scunthorpe United :
Evans, Crosby, Hinds, Byrne, Rose, Taylor, Baraclough (Sparrow 77), Beagrie, Sharp (Torpey 77), Keogh, MacKenzie (Goodwin 59)
Subs not used:
Musselwhite, Butler

Huddersfield :
Rachubka, Hudson (McAliskey 78), Holdsworth, Adams (Mirfin 60), Nathan Clarke, Brandon (Collins 78), Martin McIntosh, Tom Clarke, Schofield, Taylor-Fletcher, Abbott
Subs not used:
Senior, Ahmed

SULSESC REPORT

by Chris Pettitt at Glanford Park

YOU know some things never change...

England can win the next World Cup, we always play in Bristol in the depths of winter, the 6,200 away fans at Man City in the Cup disappeared down to 3,500 home fans against Huddersfield and Scunthorpe can always be relied upon to cock it up in the final minutes of a game they should have won.

Not once but twice did they blow it in the final minute of each half.

The first-half was fairly even with Scunthorpe, attacking the Railway End against a strong breeze, taking the lead on 17 minutes when Beags cut in from the left and shot with his right from about 18 yards.

This only opened the game up as Huddersfield seemed to step up a gear. But for all their possession, the only clear cut chance was when Abbott blasted over from eight yards when it seemed easier to score.

Sharp then had a great chance to put the Iron 2-0 up but hit his shot straight at the 'keeper. In the dying seconds of the half, Schofield cut in from the right and as the defence backed off unleashed a left foot shot into the top corner just beyond the reach of Tommy.

The second-half started much brighter for the Iron and with the help of the wind we piled on the pressure, forcing corner after corner. Bara hit the cross bar direct from one and a fierce drive from Keogh caused the 'keeper to block with his hands, the rebound bouncing just the wrong side of the post.

Keogh was causing problems for the Huddersfield defence and his left wing run led to a cross into the path of Sharp who, instead of hitting it first time, tried to control it, giving the defence time to get a foot in, Sharp himself having a fine shot just wide.

Cleveland, on the right, just brushed the post and it looked like it was never going in. Then after 70 minutes, from a corner on the left, the defence failed to clear properly, Keogh picked up the loose ball and unleashed a right foot shot into the top corner for 2-1 Iron.

We were well on top with Keogh, Sharp and Taylor causing all sorts of problems. Then came the game changing decision. Sharp was replaced by Torps and suddenly we couldn't string two passes together.

We were no threat, the defence found themselves under pressure, and a free kick in the last minute was launched to the far post where Holdsworth was on hand to blast the equaliser.

Even with five minutes of injury time, the Iron still had a chance to win it when a cross fell invitingly for Torps but his header had no power or direction. At the final whistle, it felt more like a defeat then a good performance for a draw.