Scunthorpe United 2-0 Needham Market (National League North)
I’m back in Lincolnshire, It’s funny as I see Scunthorpe United as a bigger club than Boston United who I watched on Saturday, but for now at least, Boston are in the National League and Scunny are sixth tier and struggling still, to get out of a division they have largely topped since they have been in it, currently sitting second behind Chester, and having watched them recently destroy Leamington, I’m not too convinced that Scunthorpe will have an easy ride for promotion, the battle at the top also includes Phil Brown’s Kidderminster whilst Curzon Ashton, Brackley Town and King’s Lynn are all going well.
At the other end there’s Needham Market, the unlucky Southerners based near Ipswich in Suffolk, are this seasons Bishop Stortford, somehow wondering how being half an hour from Felixstowe has earned them the right to be considered ‘northern’ but hey ho, here we go, unfortunately someone has to be it.
Results wise they have been competitive, beating Alfreton Town last time out after coming from two down to win 3-2, they haven’t been hammered recently despite one win in seven, often losing by the odd goal, since being thumped at Buxton 7-1 in October their goals for and against column reads 10 scored 15 conceded in 12 games where they have drawn six and lost four. Despite being in the relegation places, they aren’t quite the whipping boys the table suggests.
Needham Market is a sleepy town of just 4,000 people. The football club was officially established in 1919 but has only really taken off since the turn of the Millennium, topping the Eastern Counties League in 2010 they entered the Isthmian League before joining the Southern Premier League Central in 2018, winning it last season to reach step two football for the first time.
Scunthorpe it seems are quite a few levels apart in both size and stature, a population of 81,000 they were a Football League stronghold from 1950-2022 before back-to-back relegations has them here now, you feel this will be their lowest ebb but there’s a sense of community at the club after some turmoil, their fans are backing them with huge crowds and it feels a happier place right now than it has been, winning football matches no matter the level always helps with that.
It's 5pm, I’m out the door, across the A46 towards Lincoln and up the A15 where I notice a new McDonalds at Scampton, I’m on the hands-free chatting to a friend about Arsenal on the phone as I hit the M180 and M181 to the Frodingham Grange roundabout and Gallagher Retail Park.
The Venue
Arriving at the Attis Arena for 6:45pm, I park in the East car park which I pre-paid for £4. Plenty of spaces but even when half full it seems to take an age to get out, the issues of parking elsewhere is that most of the surrounding retail area has signs up of short stay or dare to suffer the consequences of paying huge fines.
There’s a McDonalds and KFC, a Costa and a Burger King, a Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, also a Hungry Horse pub within walking distance, you won’t go without food but not for me tonight, I’m walking around the side of the stadium, past the Iron Bar towards the gates of the Vertikal Stand, where the media tables are sporadically parked at the back behind a couple of posts in view.
I’ve grabbed a quick Yorkie and brew before sitting down next to retired centre forward Steve Torpey who’s on co-comms for Radio Humberside, another former Iron Lee Ridley walks past and gives us a wave, the view onto the pitch okay but for some obstruction to my left, near level with the 18 yard box you feel the goal to my right is a mile away, the pitch looking a little worse for wear, it’s the third home game in a row and a couple of weeks back they had a match called off due to water logging, I’m half surprised tonight got the go ahead after a shower or two on my way over.
The Game
The stand to my left as always is packed in with home fans all making a noise, pretty full in the one I’m sat and opposite but only 21 from Needham Market to my right, the action underway, you feel the away side are rabbits in headlights, they suffer a bit of imposter syndrome, ‘what are we doing here’ as Scunthorpe push forward, keep possession and attack in numbers, quick to win the ball back when Needham Market clear, it’s one way traffic and when the ball bounces to Kian Scales on four minutes, the midfielder smashes it home from the edge of the box to provide the Iron fans some early joy.
That goal seems to settle the nerves of the away side, who start to come out of their shell a little, the game relaxes as a sort of low tempo attack verses defence, Scunny try and fail to penetrate the visitors back line, who in return every now and again send one long down the flanks.
It’s a first half of little incident, an injury to Dan Morphew has the away side managed by Kevin Horlock since 2020, make a change, but nothing changes in the game, other than Scunthorpe probing without success, a succession of corners has them knock on the door but Josh Blunkell in the Needham Market goal has hardly a thing to do.
The Score
At half time you feel it can go one of two ways, Scunthorpe will eventually run away with it or the longer it gets, the visitors may get a chance to nick something on the break, and during the early stages of the second half it feels like the latter, as they play with more confidence, Scunny struggling to create danger as their fans start to feel impatient, whilst Needham grow with confidence, the odd venture forward is now backed up by one or two more shirts in red.
But the tide turns on 70 when number 7 Luke Ingram takes a loose touch in midfield, he’s a player I like, bald headed, he’s done well on the ball and looks to be the one who can pull some strings, but he’s chasing a bad one and lunges in on an opponent on half way, it’s rash but for me a yellow, but then I was a player who had been sent off on a few occasions for doing the same, the Referee quick to take out his red and reduce the relegation worriers to ten.
That allowed Scunthorpe some extra time and space and star man Callum Roberts tested Blunkell with a belter that he palmed away for a corner, but the former Notts County winger had the last laugh when he rocketed one home from the edge of the area on 82, a goal which put the match to bed and eased off some tension for those few impatient Scunny fans who were starting to get frustrated.
The Stars
Cal Roberts is the star player in the National League North, he’s a player with football league quality and is the man Scunthorpe turn to when they need something positive in the attacking third. Of the others on the night, not enough provided, Kian Scales did, from Midfield, whilst left winger Mo Fadera threatened out wide, he has speed and natural ability but was subbed on 55 after being largely on the periphery, Danny Whitehall another usual talisman, very quiet as their number nine.
For Needham Market they dug in and worked hard without having much quality up top, perhaps a predicament to why they are in the relegation zone? Kieran Morphew their captain putting in an excellent display at centre half, Ingram until his unlucky red card, played well in midfield, but really they were well below a class of Scunthorpe and rightly so, as size, stature, playing pull and finances, would surely tell them apart.
The Verdict
Scunthorpe have a real race on with Chester, Kiddy and alike to gain promotion, and it’s really anybody’s guess if they can do it, I’m still backing Chester as the best I’ve seen this season, but I’ve not yet seen Kidderminster live, who perhaps have the best Manager in charge? Andy Butler will hope his side can keep knocking on the door, can keep beating what’s in front of them, and come May be in and around the mix, you would argue anything but promotion is failure for this football club, but in a tough keenly contested division where there’s a few sides pushing, they won’t always get it their own way.
I feel that Scunthorpe are perhaps a right back, a combative centre midfielder and decent winger short of having a really good side fit for the level above, Needham Market won’t have that worry next season, they’ll be back playing clubs closer to home in the league below, but credit to them, as they are game and organised and well drilled, just lacking that extra spark needed in what is a very tough division to excel in, especially when you’re based so far south, having to travel many miles north.
The Teams
Scunthorpe United: Ross Fitzsimons, Max Kougun (Will Evans 60), Andrew Boyce, Alfie Beestin, Danny Whitehall (Mark Beck 85), Callum Roberts (Michael Kelly 87), Joe Rowley, Kian Scales (Jason Law 78), Mo Fadera (Carlton Ubeazuono 56), Tyler Denton, Oli Rose.
Needham Market: Josh Blunkell, Jake Dye, Tommy Smith, Kyle Hammond (Tevan Allen 66), Kieran Morphew, Dan Morphew (Josh Tomlinson 29), Luke Ingram, Seth Chambers (Liam Cross 65), Jacob Lay (Adam Mills 58), Ben Hunter, Reggie Lambe (Jamie McGrath 58).
7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 28th January 2025, Glanford Park, Scunthorpe (att 3,155).
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