SCUNTHORPE UNITED LONDON AND SOUTH EAST SUPPORTERS CLUB

Scunthorpe United v Bradford

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Football League One

Scunthorpe United2 (0)Bradford0 (0)

Sharp 56, Beckford 76

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Byrne, Crosby, Foster (Butler 35), Williams, Taylor (Hinds 81), Goodwin, MacKenzie, Hurst (Baraclough 82), Sharp, Beckford
Subs not used:
Lillis, Quinn

Bradford :
Ricketts, Youga, Wetherall, Bower, Parker, Colbeck, Bentham, Bridge-Wilkinson (Johnson 4), Daley (Barrau 82), Paynter (Hibbert 46), Ashikodi
Subs not used:
Howarth, Clarke

SULSESC REPORT

by Vic Duke at Glanford Park

WHAT’S this? I’m doing a home match report from Glanford Park. And it’s the second consecutive home game I’ve attended. And I’m becoming a regular in the Bent Lawyer. Something must be going on and it’s not just barmaids Charlie and Irene.

A reasonable SULSESC turn-out in the Lawyer before the match including our leader Andy S, Neil on his own, Jon and easternmost member Bob Dook. I spend an enjoyable lunchtime session with Manchester’s version of D’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers. SULSESC member Andrew from Hyde (Dr. Shipman’s patch) has brought along three Man City fans (Russ, Phil and Chris) to see a decent team and even the prospect of goals.

We began with a game of swapsies, Andrew gave me a much coveted DVD of Forest 0 Iron 4, and in return I gave him a home programme from 1960-61 versus Sheffield United (his first ever game at the Old Show Ground). Typically of a gathering of Man City fans, there was much anti-red scum banter and a great deal of drinking. A pleasant surprise was having our collective Honest Lawyer lunch sponsored by Chris’ expense account.

As for the game, it was ultimately a comfortable win for the claret and blues. The first-half, however, was disappointing – we dominated possession but lacked a cutting edge.

The second-half was much better. On 56 minutes, a Sharp turn (in both senses) on the edge of the box produced a deflected shot in at the near post for 1-0. A brief panic after 65 minutes when Bradford had a header into the net from a corner disallowed for a push. Twenty minutes later, Beckford unleashed a great shot out of the blue from 25 yards to make the game safe at 2-0.

The draw between our main rivals Bristol City and Forest meant that the Iron were now four points clear at the top with six games to play.

Back to the Lawyer in celebration for more banter and drinking with D’Artagnan and his Three Musketeers. The latter particularly enjoyed the old fashioned pleasure of standing on a terrace behind the goal – not to mention actually seeing some goals. I can remember very little of the journey home.