24/25 Match Preview: Scunthorpe United

The Lions’ unbeaten run may have come to an end last time out, but attention now turns to the Emirates FA Cup with Scunthorpe United making the trip to Nethermoor on Saturday, writes Scott Kelly.

Match Sponsors: British Balustrade Co

Past Meetings

These sides have only met once before, with the Iron winning 2-0 in a preseason friendly at Nethermoor back in 2019.

Last Time Out

Guiseley 1-2 Worksop Town

The Lions lost for the first time in eight matches as Worksop Town took all the three points back to Nottinghamshire by winning 2-1 at Nethermoor.  

The Tigers went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Dan Bramall put his strike out of the reach of Joe Cracknell as it bobbled into his bottom left corner.  

Three minutes after the break, Leo Farrell scored his sixth goal of the season. There was a bit of pinball just outside the Worksop penalty area and the ball fell kindly for Farrell who chested and volleyed home brilliantly.  

The game no doubt turned on a swing of Will Longbottom’s left boot. He was brought down by Regan Hutchinson and the referee pointed to the spot. It was a questionable penalty call as it looked as if Longbottom could well have been felled outside of the area. Longbottom stepped up and saw his penalty saved well by Sebastian Malkowski. 

Hutchinson was in the thick of it again a couple of minutes later when an off the ball incident with Adriano Moke resulted in the Guiseley midfielder being shown a second yellow card.  

The Tigers made the man advantage count when Mason O’Malley’s cross was powered home by Vaughan Redford nine minutes from time. A late surge from the Lions’ culminated in goalkeeper Cracknell firing a half chance onto the roof of the net following a late corner.  

But it was too late as the Lions’ succumbed to their first league defeat of the season and leaves the visitors without defeat since the opening day of the season.

Post Match Reaction From The Gaffer

The lad has milked it. Embarrassing to be perfectly honest. He (the referee) could not wait to get that second yellow card out. I thought his performance as a referee was absolutely dreadful 

Boss Mark Bower opened his post-match interview with a plethora of sarcastic remarks about the referee’s performance.

“They knew the dark arts better than us.” 

He also had some scathing words about the opposition’s approach to the game before complimenting the Nottinghamshire outfit on the amount of quality and experience in their squad.

When we got the equaliser, we looked good value and in the ascendency, (and looked likely) to go on and get the three points but we probably haven’t played with our heads at times. 

Bower felt the game turned after Adriano Moke picked up a second yellow card with the game at 1-1.

They are the strongest team in the league, and we have more than matched them. 

Worksop sit 2nd after victory and Bower feels his side are not far off them in terms of quality. The Lions are currently 5th after the result. 

The Lions’ Team News

Jordan Thewlis could be fit to face his hometown club after missing the Worksop defeat with a groin issue. Adriano Moke was sent off in that game and will miss out on this one through suspension.

Mark Bower confirmed post-match last weekend that Prince Ekpolo will return after missing the Worksop defeat after his wife gave birth.

Jameel Ible, Lewis Whitham and Jake Wright remain out.

A look at Scunthorpe United

Manager: Andy Butlers
Stadium: Attis Arena
Nickname: The Iron
23/24 League Position: 2nd in the Vanarama National League North

Scunny have been through their fair share of ups and downs in the last few years and after successive relegations from League Two to National League North, they were at least hoping to win promotion from NLN at the first time of asking. They did not have it their own way though, finishing 2nd to title winners Tamworth. They later lost to eventual winners Boston United in the play-off semi-finals and have had to endure a further season down in National League North.

The Iron this season are celebrating 125 years as a club and would ideally like to celebrate with a promotion. It’s a case of so far so good for them as they top the table with 20 points from nine games, three points ahead of Chester and Curzon Ashton who sit 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Andy Butler spent over eight years at the club as a player in three different spells and was appointed manager in May after the club dispensed of Jimmy Dean after falling short in the play offs. He won the National League North manager of the month for August, but his side come into this game after defeat last time out.

They lost 1-0 at Scarborough in what was their first defeat of the season. They have won six of their nine games so far, with each victory coming whilst having kept a clean sheet. They also kept a clean sheet in the Second Qualifying round replay, as they brushed aside Newcastle Town 5-0 to get to this tie.

The club is littered with talent, with many having made appearances at a much higher level.

Ross Fitzsimons is their number one having spent much of his career at National League North. The 28-year-old joined the club from Chesterfield last summer.

Will Evans and Andrew Boyce make just two of what is a very strong defensive core at the club. Evans joined last summer from Boreham Wood and Boyce has played in the EFL for the likes of Lincoln and Grimsby. Tyler Denton is a former Leeds full back.

Michael Clunan is club captain. Callum Roberts was seen as a major coup for the club after leaving Aberdeen for the Lincolnshire club.

Alfie Beestin is the club’s top goalscorer with four so far. Forward Danny Whitehall has three. The likes of Boyce, Clunan, Evans have all contributed with goals for the club this season.

Former Lion Brad Nicholson made the move to Scunthorpe in the summer from Boston.

Tickets for this Weekend’s Game

Tickets will be available to purchase from our turnstiles on Saturday priced at:

  • Adults: £13
  • Concessions (Over 66s/Students/Registered Disabled): £9
  • 11-18 Year-Olds: £5
  • Accompanied Under-11s: £1

Payment can be made via cash or card.

Tickets can also be purchased online in advance of the game, HOME FANS PURCHASE HERE and AWAY FANS PURCHASE HERE.

‘The Lions’ matchday programme will be on sale for £3 from sellers near each turnstile and our Club Shop, take a look at what is inside here.

It is cash payments only inside the ground for programmes and 50/50 cash draw tickets. Food and drink from The Lions’ Diner can be paid for by cash or card and the clubhouse accepts and prefers payment by card.

In the home end Raise The Roof will be cooking Lishman’s Burgers near turnstiles 3 & 4 and the Sweet Shop will be open in front of the Club Shop with chocolate, crisps, drinks and sweets on offer. The hatch in the clubhouse will be closed until the end of September, due to cricket matches taking place at the same time.

The Lions’ Diner will be open selling pies, chips, sausage rolls snacks and hot and cold drinks for away fans.

Next Up:

3:00 pm
Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division

Prescot Cables vs Guiseley