Scunthorpe United v Bristol C

Saturday, February 3, 2007

Football League One

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Byrne, Crosby, Foster, Ridley, Taylor, Goodwin, Hinds, Hurst (Morris 66), Sharp (Butler 89), Beckford
Subs not used:
Lillis, MacKenzie, Foy

Bristol C :
Basso, Orr (Andrews 54), McCombe, Carey, McAllister, Murray, Johnson, Skuse (Noble 76), Brian Wilson (Keogh 83), Showunmi, Betsy
Subs not used:
Weale, Russell

SULSESC REPORT

by Andy Skeels at The Lord Clyde

YES, you did read that right… the Lord Clyde.

There wasn’t exactly a perfect view of all four sides of the Glanford Park pitch from our vantage point in the Lord Clyde, and it did seem a rather strange location in which to be watching the Iron play, but with this top-of-the-table clash deemed worthy of live coverage by Sky Sports, the long haul up to North Lincolnshire on a Monday evening did seem rather unnecessary.

Let’s face it, it was either a 400-mile plus round trip costing roughly £40 in petrol and resulting in a 2 o’clock in the morning arrival home, or a 25-minute train ride up to Waterloo, spending a fraction of the petrol money on several decent pints of ale instead, and being home before midnight. Which would you choose?

Mind you, when I was tramping around some dodgy back streets of London SE1 in the dark trying to find Clenham Street, I must admit I was wondering if the former might have been the better choice!

In the end, it all worked out okay. SULSESC real ale guru Nick Haines’ selection of boozer proved spot on, there was a healthy turn-out of London branch members (and even a few non-members, too) and we got a great result to celebrate as well.

The match might not have been a classic – and it’s hard to imagine how the neutral TV viewer could possibly have stuck this one out to the bitter end – but from an Iron point of view, and approaching the ‘business end’ of the season, as we are, it’s now all about three points, not fantastic performances.

Bristol shaded the early exchanges and the Iron had had a couple of escapes as the clock ticked down towards half-time with the occupants of the Lord Clyde’s back bar quite happy to see the first-half end goalless.

Then, a quickly taken free-kick four minutes before the break, a swift turn and shot from King Billy, and we had what proved to be the match-winner – and Sky had their headline… Sharp scoring his 21st goal of the season on his 21st birthday.

The second-half passed in a nail-biting blur and anxious supping of pints as the Iron held out for an important victory. If only all our matches were live on Sky…