05/08 Scunthorpe

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 07/08/2000

Town overcame local rivals Scunthorpe United 2-0 in an away day friendly to finally kick-start their pre-season and avenge last year's defeat in the corresponding fixture. The Town goal scorers were Wayne Burnett with a penalty just before half time and Kingsley Black with a second half free-kick.

In the opening eight minutes of a scrappy game the early chances fell to the Iron. Scunthorpe midfielder Lee Hodges twice forced Town keeper Danny Coyne into good saves while Torpey saw his reflex shot just clear the crossbar shortly after.

Michael Jeffrey, on trial at Blundell Park from Kilmarnock, went close with Town's first real effort from a lofted shot that Scunthorpe's keeper Tommy Evans pushed over the bar.

Evans denied full-back John McDermott soon after with a diving save. Brian Quailey went close for Scunthorpe after 25 minutes when he latched onto a pinpoint pass out of defence by Rob Dewhurst. The Scunthorpe striker took the ball into his stride at full stretch but his eventual effort was somehow deflected wide of goal by the onrushing Coyne.

Chances were at a premium at both ends as the two sides continued to spar in midfield but it was the Mariners who broke the stalemate just two minutes before the interval.

Jeffrey went to ground under a challenge from Nathan Stanton on the right hand side of the penalty area and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the Mariners a penalty. Wayne Burnett stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick just out of the reach of Evans, who had went the right way with his dive.

Things could have been even worse for Scunthorpe just 60 seconds later as Alan Pouton spurned an easy chance to put Grimsby 2-0 in front, steering his shot badly wide with just Evans to beat.

Within two minutes of the restart the Mariners had doubled their lead and effectively killed off the game. The goal again came from a dead ball situation after United skipper Nigel Pepper had hauled Alan Pouton down on the edge of the United penalty area.

Kingsley Black made the most of the opportunity as he curled a "trademark" free-kick around the Iron wall and into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Kevin Donovan twice had chances to stretch the lead yet further as Grimsby turned the screw but United fought back and did create chances to pull themselves back into the game.

Six minutes later Coyne had to be alert again, this time pulling off a fine diving save to keep Torpey's looping headed effort out.

Any pattern there was to the game came to and end with 20 minutes remaining as Town boss Alan Buckley brought on eight substitutes in one swoop. Grimsby went closest to the next goal with substitute Adam Buckley lifting his effort over the crossbar.

The game had a controversial ending as Town striker Daryl Clare clashed with United's Mark Jackson after a tackle from the United defender just inside his own half. Tempers flared as the pair went eyeball to eyeball but, with the game inside its final two minutes, the referee invited both players to see out the remainder of the action from the touchline and no card was shown

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