Scunthorpe United v Yeovil

Saturday, April 7, 2007

Football League One

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Byrne, Crosby, Foster, Williams, Taylor, MacKenzie, Goodwin, Hurst, Sharp, Beckford
Subs not used:
Lillis, Butler, Quinn

Yeovil :
Mildenhall, Rose, Forbes, Skiverton, Jones, Davies (Barry 69), Kalala, Cohen, Morris, Gray (Knights 83), Stewart
Subs not used:
Guyett, Sweeney, Rooney

SULSESC REPORT

by Chris Vaughan at Glanford Park

NO, really, I wasn’t going to go to this one. But then I saw the e-mail from Roly offering a lift and it just seemed rude not to accept…

Journey up, no problem at all. Three hours from Swanley, called in at the ground to boost Club Shop profits (and Staffy’s – bought his book but received no discount despite being in it), buy tickets for this and Huddersfield, then off to the Lawyer for a couple.

Back at GP by just after 7 o’clock where the queues were already looking ominous. This place has never had enough turnstiles from the day it opened. I don’t know who owns the field that passes as the overflow car park, but probably not the club. We might need it after re-developing the Telegraph stand into a 30,000 three-tiered effort some time in the near future…but hopefully with enough turnstiles.

Back to the queues (Study United/Donny Road) and Roly and I managed to pick the one that wasn’t going anywhere. For some reason there was no turnstile specifically for people with tickets, so there was little benefit in buying one before the game. At kick-off there must have been at least 400 people still outside; ticket holders were eventually let in 10 minutes late through the exit doors. Assuming we get promoted, this system will not work next season. I hope United learn from tonight’s problems.

Once in the ground, the first impression was that United were under the cosh a bit. Yeovil were obviously having a good go at securing the three points they needed to keep their own promotion bus on the road; United possibly showing a few nerves.

The next five minutes was spent securing a place on the terraces – the home end was packed and many people resorted to standing in the gangways and the space at the front behind the wall. Quite chaotic, but a great atmosphere!

We managed to struggle up to some space on the left (looking at the pitch) and were quite comfortable in the end, although there was a stanchion in the way. Should have had cantilevers from the start….

After around half an hour, United appeared to have weathered the Yeovil storm and started putting a few attacks together. A cross from Hurst on the left reached the far post and I watched the Yeovil defender head it from one side of my obstructive stanchion and then saw the ball hit the back of the net on the other side. A little surreal, and it took me a split second to realise what had happened, as everyone went bonkers around me. I soon joined in.

Scunthorpe controlled much of the second-half, allowing Yeovil few opportunities to threaten a goal. Murphy didn’t have a proper save to make. Sharpy could have sewn it all up when put clean through the middle; haring down the pitch like a whippet (mixed metaphor?), though, he was unable to beat the advancing ‘keeper (tired old cliché).

A quick pint in the Iron Bar after the game to allow the car parks to clear, then another good run home. I was back in three hours; pity poor Roly who then had at least another hour to go.

Three more points in the bag. Neil Wright texted me just after the game: “The fat lady’s started her vocal warm-up.” It’s looking more and more like we’re going to need her.

"At long last, I believe!"