Scunthorpe United 4-2 Tranmere Rovers

It was a Bobby Grant double that helped fired the Iron forward to only our 3rd win of the campaign and to send Les Parry’s valiant Tranmere Rovers back to the Wirral empty handed once more.

The Ellesmere Port based club’s fans must be sick of the sight of Glanford Park – for it was Strike Three and out, no doubt drawing up memories of Paul Hayes’ masked last-minute winner in the JPT, and Cliff Byrne’s bullet header that fired us, in their place, to the play-offs and promotion.

This time it was the turn of the new guard: with only one Iron survivor from the recent victory over the Rovers: with Iron skipper Sam Togwell no doubt a proud man once more. All he got for his troubles was a dangerous 2 footed lunge from Tranmere loanee José Baxter – which justly resulted in a straight red card for the Everton forward.

And despite the visitors having dominated almost all the 1st half: it was very much a case of ‘game of two halves’ as having somehow gone in at the interval at 2-2, and for once: the Iron’s second half dominance told beyond all else.

With even a scored penalty thrown in there to excercise some demons, a 2-goal cushion and 10 man opponents calming nerves – Scunny saw the game out fairly comfortably.

But you wouldn’t have seen that coming after a Mustafa Tiryaki double had threatened to see the Iron’s somewhat insipid start to the season continue. But the most welcome 3 points and 2nd home win this season, fire the Claret & Blue army up to the heady heights of 15th.

There was only one change made to Alan Knill’s men – with Garry Thompson coming in for Mark Duffy, the latter seemingly dropped to the bench.

Thus – Sam Slocombe was kept in goal for a third successive league game for the Iron – and whilst he’ll be justifiably disappointed with Tiryaki’s first, he made good saves after that, and Scunthorpe are yet to lose with him in goal this season.

Whether that will be enough to keep the ex-Bottesford stopper in the starting line-up when Sam Johnstone returns from injury, (expected to be this Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth), remains to be seen however. My guess is not, just.

So in front of Slocombe were the constant Iron defence of Sam Togwell, Shane Duffy, Paul Reid and Eddie Nolan.

In front of them were the flat midfield four of Garry Thompson, Michael O’Connor, Oliver Norwood and Andy Barcham. This thus left the deadly duo of Chris Dagnall and Bobby Grant to partner each other up front for the Iron.

But the game started in absolutely shocking fashion for the Iron, falling behind from the first attack: with barely 3 minutes on the clock.

The long throw from Tranmere set the tone for a lot of their attacks: it was very deep – so when Slocombe came and missed, there was an almighty scramble – but it was ultimately a simple tap-in through Slocombe’s legs for the ex-Iron trialist Mustafa Tiryaki.



ith arguably the greatest name in footballing trialist history, the London born target-man, (of Turk descent), showed the Iron just what they were missing.

And with him having scored in the pre-season romp away to Bottesford, it left some Iron fans wondering as to what might have been.

It was the worst possible start for the Iron, and there wasn’t really the instant huge turnaround that all had been hoping for. Indeed, the Wirral based visitors went on to boss the first half.

With Tiryaki as the lone central frontman, but with plenty of support when it suited them – Les Parry’s men appeared to be doing the perfect job on the Iron. It was reminding us all of the Oldham games that it was almost untrue.

That was untilt Iron thrust themselves back into the game by taking a leaf out of their opponents’ book.

It was a looped free kick from the flank that caused all the mayhem: so when Shane Duffy got half a yard on his marker – and then the Rovers keeper naively came off his line, the Iron’s Everton loanee was able to simply flick home into the roof of the net.



Scunny’s most welcome equaliser was Duffy’s first ever professional league goal – and despite it being against the run of play, it was hoped that the hosts could kick on and find first gear, as we’d barely got out of neutral up until then.

Sadly – this didn’t really occur, and it was a bit too easy for Tranmere to be bossing the first half – and penning the Iron back.

Les Parry’s men were generally direct – more than willing to put the Iron backline under serious pressure from their long-throw specialist and a whole host of corners. Thankfully though: John Welsh’s corner delivery was inconsistent at best, which did let the Iron off at times.

But the pressure was patently increasing – so when Tranmere re-took the lead in the 32nd minute, it wasn’t a surprise to the less than 4,000 Scunny fans in Glanford Park: although the manner it occurred via sure bloody was.

Credit to Tranmere – it was the least they’d deserved, and it was a flowing move up the left flank, it was then slotted inside to Mustafa Tiryaki once more – who fashioned barely a slither of space, but it was more than enough for the forward: who then lashed in an absolute screamer from 25 yards.



It flew straight into the corner with dip and venom, leaving Slocombe absolutely helpless. It was an absolutely stunning goal that made you fear it might not be Scunny’s day yet again.

It was then turn of Rovers’ attacking midfielder Weir, who bombed forward from the middle expertly: but was visibly, and understandably disappointed, when he could only thunder his effort comfortably over the crossbar much to the Iron’s relief ..

It was just a few minutes later – when only a great save from Sam Slocombe denied Tranmere what would have surely been the killer third goal, when they really should have converted past the ex-Bottesford stopper.

So when the home side dragged themselves level in the 43rd minute: the visitors were beginning to rue their missed chances already.

It wasn’t a dis-similar goal and strike to Tiryaki’s second, and it was a lovely slipped ball to the right where Bobby Grant was able to cut inside well, and curl another stunning strike from 30 yards into the far corner.

Once more, the keeper was absolutely powerless to stop it, and Grant wheeled away in celebratory delight knowing that by hook, crook, miracle or crime – he’d made sure that Scunny went in level at half-time.

Despite having been generally bossed, that they did.

Half-time: Scunthorpe United 2-2 Tranmere Rovers

The Iron began the second half with much more purpose and zip though thankfully, with Knill & co’s half-time team talk had clearly worked the mustard: as the side that came out 2nd half was almost unrecognisable to that of the first.

The Iron were rampant – and when Barcham somehow managed to only prod his close range effort to the feet of fon Williams in net for Tranmere: the Iron needn’t have worried. It was just a sign of things to come.

But it wasn’t great defending from the men in all white, as even the most partisan Iron fan would confess.

Slocombe rushed out well outside his area, sent the ball flying with his left foot. But despite it not flying off the ground, it seemed to catch the entire Tranmere team out.

Thus it was somehow able to run all the way through, with Chris Dagnall able to race from the right to pick the ball up on the left. He then left the defenders for pace from their surprisingly high line, and rounded the keeper with expert ease.



nd tapping it home gracefully in front of the delightful Donny Road End, it was great to know at last that the Iron were in front.

And whilst many supporters, not unjustifiably, wouldn’t have backed Scunny to hold on: again, they needn’t have worried, for Tranmere decided to not only press the self destruct button again – but smash it into thousands of tiny non-recyclable pieces.

For just after an hour gone: loanee José Baxter decided he’d had enough of proceedings, although on reflection – he can consider him harshly treated.

The Everton loanee, who had recently had his loan spell on the Wirral recently extended: thundered into a tackle with Sam Togwell – and found himself, after some Iron fan and player indignation, sent straight off by the referee’s deadly red card.

But in fairness to José: not only was there a foul in the build-up by Sam Togwell, (literally 2 seconds before the red), but the tackle was borderline. There were 2 feet: but they were both on the ground – and there was zero malice there.

The referee made a rod for his own back after inviting another crunching tackle having let Toggers’ one go only seconds earlier. But Baxter did give the referee the opportunity to find the red – which is the ultimate cardinal sin. He’s got no chance of getting it appealed either – we all know what the FA are like.

Despite our most pessimistic worries and tendencies – Alan Knill’s men never looked back from this, and were simply destined to secure only our third win of the season.

It was killed off for good after 38 year old Jamaican centre-half Ian Goodison committed suicide in his own penalty area. Not literally, but he might as well have done.

He was under pressure from Grant – but no so that he didn’t have ample time to shell it from danger up the field. But he just kept hold of the ball, trying nonsensically to turn: and Michael O’Connor then stole in.

The Irishman took the ball of Goodison’s heels, but was then yanked down by the defender, seemingly desperate to compound the misery. The kind of madness that makes managers, supporters and team-mates want to pull their hair out.

The referee had no choice but to point to the spot – and even after the 2 misses during the week, you always felt more confident of conversion.

There was only 66 minutes on the clock – but when Bobby Grant coolly stepped up and drilled home to double Scunthorpe’s cushion and kill the game. Everyone knew it.

From here on – both sides introduced a couple of fresh legs: Ajose & Duffy for the Iron – but the game was always going to be seen out comfortably.

And despite Tranmere trying to press, particularly very late on and from set pieces: Scunny saw the rest of the game out very comfortably – and with relatively little note to be honest.

Not only was there the rare treat of a victory for the Scunny faithful – but the even rarer one of not having to bite nails and worry endlessly right till the end.

It made all the difference as the 3 sides of Glanford Park went home very happy indeed! Up the Iron!

Full-Time: Scunthorpe United 4-2 Tranmere Rovers