TLG Stat-Pack – Scunthorpe United form

Saturday 27th March 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three

Scunthorpe United 1 Leyton Orient 1

Scunthorpe United: Tom Evans, Nathan Stanton, Paul Groves, Andy Butler, Lee Ridley, Cleveland Taylor, Wayne Graves (Kevin Sharp 51), Terry Barwick (Ian Kilford 78), Matthew Sparrow, Steve Torpey, Steven MacLean (Paul Hayes 75). Subs not used: Adam Capp, Lee Featherstone.

Goals: Sparrow 7

Summary: A four-match losing run was ended as Russell Wilcox took charge of his first match following the departure of Brain Laws after six years in the job. However, it was not to be all three points, despite Matthew Sparrow’s early goal. The midfielder collected a throw-in on the right and smashed past Glenn Morris in the Orient goal.

Before they had taken the lead, Wayne Graves and Steve Torpey, with a whipped left-foot effort just over the crossbar, had gone close for the Iron, and goalscorer Sparrow went close again when he forced Morris into a fingertip save. Paul Groves almost netted his third goal for the club but John Mackie hacked off of the goalline.

The second half saw the Londoners fight back, and Ciaran Toner made Evans effect a fine save. Wayne Purser then smashed a low shot against the base of the post. The former Barnet front man made amend though, and converted Jabo Ibehre’s cross to equalise. Paul Hayes, on as a substitute for Steve MacLean, wasted a late chance for the hosts when he hooked over the bar.

Tuesday 23rd March 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three

Scunthorpe United 2 Carlisle United 3

Scunthorpe United: Tom Evans, Nathan Stanton, Paul Groves, Andy Butler, Lee Ridley (Kevin Sharp 75), Cleveland Taylor, Terry Barwick, Wayne Graves (Paul Hayes 80), Matthew Sparrow, Steve MacLean, Steve Torpey. Subs not used: Alex Calvo-Garcia, Lee Featherstone, Darren Holloway

Goals: Steven McLean 28, 73 (pen)

Summary: Carlisle took the lead against the Iron in a crunch relegation battle at Glanford Park after just fifteen minutes when Chris Billy and Brendan McGill combined to set up Peter Duffield for his second goal in just three matches since signing for the Cumbrians.

The experienced front man almost netted again seconds later, but shot inches wide, and he was made to pay when the division’s top goalscorer Steve McLean latched onto a Lee Andrews mistake and fired home on 27 minutes. It remained 1-1 until the half-time break.

Once again after the interval Carlisle came out the stronger, and this time Mark Boyd’s 25-yard searing effort burst into the back of Tommy Evans’ net to restore the advantage. And again the Iron fought back as McLean bagged his 23rd of the campaign – the Glasgow Rangers loan signing making no mistake from the penalty spot.

It was down to one-time Bury midfielder Chris Billy to administer the killer blow as he again sent a long-range drive into the back of the net twelve minutes from the end to make it 3-2 with his first goal for the Cumbrians. Scunthorpe had no answer, and the escape continued for Carlisle, with the Iron sacking manager Brian Laws after the match.

Saturday 20th March 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three

Swansea City 4 Scunthorpe United 2

Scunthorpe United: Tom Evans, Nathan Stanton, Lee Ridley, Andy Butler, Cleveland Taylor, Matthew Sparrow, Terry Barwick (Peter Beagrie 68), Paul Groves, Darren Holloway, Steve Torpey, Steven MacLean (Paul Hayes 73). Subs not used: Adam Capp, Kevin Sharp, Wayne Graves.

Goals: Cleveland Taylor 25, 83

Summary: Swansea City overcame the loss of manager Brian Flynn to get back to winning ways against the Iron, who were slipping down the table at an alarming rate by this stage. Despite that, it was the visitors to the Vetch Field in south Wales that took the early advantage, with winger Cleveland Taylor netting on 25 minutes.

Scunny conceded a penalty just five minutes before the break, and crowd favourite Andy Robinson converted from twelve yards to equalise. Minutes after the break, Stuart Roberts and Leon Britton combined on the right and Kevin Nugent flicked home the resultant cross.

It went from bad to worse as the Welshmen dominated – Flynn’s final signing for the Swans, Paul Connor, struck a brace within eleven minutes to make it 4-1, and although Taylor again popped up to round off the scoring, it was not to be for the Humberside side.

Tuesday 16th March 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three

Scunthorpe United 0 Kidderminster Harriers 2

Scunthorpe United: Tom Evans, Nathan Stanton, Cliff Byrne, Andy Butler, Kevin Sharp, Cleveland Taylor, Paul Groves, Darren Holloway (Matthew Sparrow 61), Peter Beagrie, Steve Torpey, Steven MacLean (Paul Hayes 73). Subs not used: Lee Ridley, Terry Barwick, Andy Parton.

Goals: none

Sent Off: Sharp 69

Summary: Strangely it was the home side that made the early running, although in truth this was a tussle between two sides that were at the wrong end of the form table. Steve MacLean went down in the penalty area early on, and Steve Torpey headed over, whilst even a Peter Beagrie special could not beat John Danby in the Harriers net.

But with their first real attack, Kiddie took the lead, with Mark Yates the initial danger – Tom Evans having to parry out his effort – and striker Ian Foster pouncing on the loose ball to give the visitors the lead about a static defence. Sean Parrish, Dean Keates and Dean Bennett went close for them, whilst Paul Groves was denied by Danby again.

Again, after the interval, the hosts started out better, with Danby pushing over Wayne Hatswell’s own header. However, Keates broke away nine minutes after half-time and extended the lead to two, and from then on only a token effort from MacLean threatened. And matters got worse when Kevin Sharp was sent off for an altercation with Parrish, which means that the defender misses the game at Roots Hall.

Saturday 13th March 2003 – Nationwide League Division Three

Hull City 2 Scunthorpe United 1

Scunthorpe United: Tom Evans, Nathan Stanton, Cliff Byrne, Andy Butler, Lee Ridley, Cleveland Taylor, Paul Groves, Darren Holloway, Kevin Sharp (Peter Beagrie 61), Steve Torpey, Steven MacLean. Subs not used: Matthew Sparrow, Paul Hayes, Terry Barwick, Andy Parton.

Goals: Steven MacLean 73

Summary: Scunthorpe lost out in the Humberside derby as Hull recorded their first win in four games against their local rivals at the Kingston Communications Stadium. Tom Evans had to save early on from Stuart Elliott, whilst Kevin Sharp cleared Jason Price’s effort off of the goalline.

Scunthorpe had not given up hope, and Kevin Sharp’s free-kick cannoned back off of the crossbar just eleven minutes into the game. However, the Tigers took the lead when Jon Walters found Ben Burgess on the edge of the penalty area and the front man exquisitely chipped Evans to make it 1-0.

Boaz Myhill had to tip a Cleveland Taylor effort over the crossbar, but on the half-hour the Iron looked down and out with Burgess stooping low to head home Elliott’s pinpoint left-wing cross. Walters lashed over the bar in the second half before Steve Torpey was fortunate to stay on the pitch after striking Price in the area.

But the game was not all over, and seventeen minutes before the end, Myhill spilled an initial effort and Steven MacLean capitalised to pull one back. Groves shot wide as Scunny wasted their last chance, and it was City that ended the better, with Danny Allsopp smashing against the post.

Summary – Shrimpers vs. Iron last five matches

Scunthorpe United

D1-1 (home; Leyton Orient; League Division Three; Matthew Sparrow)

L2-3 (home; Carlisle United; League Division Three; Steven MacLean 2 [1pen])

L2-4 (away; Swansea City; League Division Three; Cleveland Taylor 2)

L0-2 (home; Kidderminster Harriers; League Division Three)

L1-2 (away; Hull City; League Division Three; Steven MacLean)

(Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 4, Scored 6, Conceded 12)

Southend United

W2-1 (away; Carlisle United; League Division Three; Leon Constantine 2 [1 pen])

L0-2 (neutral; Blackpool; LDV Vans Trophy final)

D2-2 (away; Lincoln City; League Division Three; Leon Constantine 2)

D1-1 (home; Swansea City; League Division Three; Lawrie Dudfield)

D1-1 (away; Bristol Rovers; League Division Three; Mark Gower)

(Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 1, Scored 6, Conceded 7)

Summary – Shrimpers home form vs. Iron away form

Scunthorpe United

L2-4 (Swansea City; League Division Three; Cleveland Taylor 2)

L1-2 (Hull City; League Division Three; Steven MacLean)

W3-1 (York City; League Division Three; Paul Groves 2, Steven MacLean [pen])

L0-1 (Torquay United; League Division Three)

D1-1 (Lincoln City; League Division Three; Cleveland Taylor)

(Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 3, Scored 7, Conceded 9)

Southend United

D1-1 (Swansea City; League Division Three; Lawrie Dudfield)

W1-0 (Macclesfield Town; League Division Three; Lawrie Dudfield)

D1-1 (Colchester United; LDV Vans Trophy; Drewe Broughton)

W3-0 (Kidderminster Harriers; League Division Three; Leon Constantine 2 [2 pens], Lawrie Dudfield)

W1-0 (Cambridge United; League Division Three; Lawrie Dudfield)

(Won 3, Drawn 2, Lost 0, Scored 7, Conceded 2)