Scunthorpe United (U18s) 1-0 Burton Albion (U18s)

Scunthorpe United (U18s) 1-0 Burton Albion (U18s)

EFL Youth Alliance

Tuesday 22nd February 2022

Harrison Poulter's fourth minute penalty gave Scunthorpe United three points against Burton Albion in this re-arranged EFL Youth Alliance fixture.

Played in windy conditions on the 4G pitch at the Eco-Power Stadium, the Iron's first-year striker sent the Brewers 'keeper the wrong way after Oliver Lobley was brought down inside the area following a cleverly-worked corner routine.

Poulter was then forced off with a nasty-looking Achilles injury midway through the first half, and there proved to be no further goals which was largely down to a tremendous collective effort by Scunthorpe's back three which kept Burton's attackers quiet.

Between them, Jamie Moore, Harry Elliott-Bell and Ben Pike won absolutely everything in the air, blocked shots and put their bodies on the line when they had to, produced some strong tackles to win the ball, read situations intelligently to prevent issues from arising and were just solid. They all made impressive contributions. HEB, in particular, made a crucial block from an otherwise goalbound attempt just before half-time and then produced an equally full-blooded tackle deep into injury-time which underlines his value as a defender who just loves to defend. Pike was utterly dominant in aerial duels and didn't seem to lose a single header and Moore, as captain, was the vocal leader. They all communicated well, in and out of posession, and were good to watch.

Despite having one or two decent opportunities and working the ball into some dangerous areas before the break, Burton (who alternated their style as they were direct early on but also tried to play through the thirds on other occasions), didn't really get in-behind Scunny's wing-backs as often as they ought to have done in the second half, nor did they properly force Owen Foster into a meaningful save - something which again is testament to the Iron's defensive work.

Scunny themselves only mustered up a few half-chances after losing Poulter. Despite enjoying more possession, some wayward finishing and wrong decision-making in the final third meant they weren't able to establish a two-goal lead which would have made things a lot more comfortable.

Nevertheless, the win means Scunthorpe leapfrog Burton and jump up to sixth spot in the EFL Youth Alliance (North-East Division) table and they're now just one place behind Doncaster Rovers who currently occupy the final 'top half' position. 

The division will divide into two next month when everyone has completed 18 matches.

My other option for a game this afternoon was Garuda Select XI vs Doncaster Rovers U18s which was bizarrely streamed live to 100,000 people on Indonesian TV (complete with punditry, full-match commentary AND post-match analysis), but with this re-arranged Youth Alliance fixture taking place only a stonesthrow away from where I'm based then it was too good a chance to turn down - especially with the weather being pleasant for a change!

Burton wore their away strip (white shirts, sky blue shorts and sky blue socks) and in the first incident of note after only three minutes, they saw some half-hearted appeals for a penalty waved away as their forward went down under pressure inside the box.

Scunthorpe soon had the ball up at the other end of the pitch where quick-thinking and clever work off a set-piece resulted in the 'hosts' being awarded a spot-kick.

A short-corner was played to Oliver Lobley whose nifty movement took him away from his marker, close to the byline, before he was clipped inside the box. It was a simple decision for the referee; unquestionably a penalty, and talisman Harrison Poulter sent the Burton 'keeper the wrong way to fire his team into a 1-0 lead with less than five minutes on the clock.

Scunny conjured up the next chance when Lobley threaded a neat ball through to Poulter who stretched his legs but from a difficult angle could only drag his shot across goal and narrowly wide of the 'keeper's right-hand post.

Burton, playing with the wind in their favour, seemed to opt for a direct approach during these early exchanges and it nearly paid dividends when their No.9 got on the end of a long ball which forced Owen Foster into a save with his legs. The Iron 'keeper looked somewhat less conventional a minute later when he sliced an intended clearance up in the air, inside his own box, which allowed an opponent to hook it goalwards but Harry Elliott-Bell was covering and had enough of a presence to prevent both the ball from going in and a lurking Burton attacker from tapping home.

Poulter's afternoon then came to an abrupt end when he pulled up close to the touchline and was left clutching his Achilles in agony, following a battle to win possession. In evident pain, he couldn't continue and had to be replaced by Nat Wallace.

A Burton attacker was booked next for a deliberate dive inside the area, but the visitors continued to lurk, probe with intent and apply pressure which culminated in a chance on 33 minutes where Foster rushed from his line and bravely intercepted a dangerous through ball at the feet of No.10. It was good 'keeping and Foster read the situation very well.

Two minutes later saw the best passage of play throughout the entire game as Scunny went close to doubling their advantage. In a free-flowing move which cut Burton apart, the combative Josh Robertson won possession and threaded a ball towards Lobley who instinctively and nonchalantly knocked it out wide to Wallace. From the left channel, the substitute advanced and squared the ball for Tyrell Sellars-Fleming whose shot was diverted wide at the expense of a corner.

The pressure continued because a free-kick was awarded after that set-piece was only partially cleared and the delivery in towards the far-post area fell to Robertson whose stabbed effort was saved at the near-post.

Burton were keen to make the most of this fortuitous little spell where they probably ought to have gone further behind and they responded with a decent spell of pressure during the 10-minute period which was remaining in the first half.

Three corners in a five-minute spell (two from the right; one from the left) tested the resolve of Scunthorpe's defence, whilst a dipping 20-yard effort, worked from open play, also narrowly cleared the upright. One of the corners was only partially cleared to the edge of the box from where a resulting shot was also whistled just over the woodwork. It was a critical period in the game; one in which Jamie Moore needed to be at his best, and just a minute or so before the whistle went for the break, Elliott-Bell made a vital block from a shot which otherwise looked as if it might creep into the bottom corner.

In the last action of the half, Foster saved well following a curling 20-yard drive by the Brewers' creative No.10 (who was arguably their best player).

The start to the second period was as equally as frantic as the latter stages of the first half as both sides went close with a minute of the game's resumption.

Scunny found themselves under pressure first; being forced to defend deep inside their own six-yard box and having cleared the ball away it led to a swift counter-attack where Sellars-Fleming, bearing down on goal, almost ended up in a one-on-one but, stretching, he was unable to bring a lofted pass under control in time and Burton's advancing 'keeper claimed the ball inside his area instead.

The second half proved to be more of a midfield battle with the Iron having more possession and looking totally strong and resolute in defence; winning everything in the air! It prompted Burton to turn to their bench - making a handful of substitutions before and after the hour mark as they sought to find an equaliser.

Lobley cleared the upright (and the fence directly behind the net) when he caught a glimpse of goal on 63 minutes and Scunthorpe also forced a couple of corners.

It was from the second of those set-pieces that Burton almost equalised on the counter-attack - and they would have done so had it not been for Charlie Strouther who tracked back tremendously and then produced an immaculate last-ditch tackle inside his own box. It prevented an almost certain equaliser.

The game was still very much in the balance at this stage because, despite getting the ball high up the pitch and into some particularly dangerous areas, things all too often broke down in the final third for Scunny who lacked a killer pass and killer instinct. They ought to have done better firstly when a shot by Strouther was comfortably gathered by the Burton 'keeper (despite the visitors defence being stretched and others being in a good position) and then when Ben Franklin curled an effort over from inside the area during the final five minutes.

Those misses ensured it was a nervy finish but the Brewers squandered their own big chance when a quick free-kick into the danger zone caught the Iron defence napping and Foster was forced to make a save, before Moore hoofed the ball away to safety.

Elliott-Bell then made a crunching tackle on the edge of the box deep into injury-time to protect what his team had worked hard for, and the final whistle soon sounded to bring an end to things.

Again, it was a superb defensive showing by Scunthorpe with all three of the defensive trio performing strongly; Moore with his leadership, HEB with his tackles and blocks and committed style of defending and Ben Pike by winning absolutely everything in the air. 

To put it into context, Burton have walloped some teams this season and their front players aren't bad by any means, so to register a clean-sheet against them is all that anybody can ask!

Special mentions also for Josh Robertson who was full-blooded and committed and got some good moves going during the first half, along with Oliver Lobley who possess the talent to be to make something happen in the middle (as was kind of proved during the best passage of play). He won't want to remember the shot which cleared the fence in a hurry though! Charlie Strouther, for tracking back and preventing a near-certain equaliser midway through the second half, also warrants a special mention as well.

Everyone will be pleased with their contribution and next up for the Iron is a trip to title favourites Bradford City on Saturday - a game which is probably the toughest you could get in the EFL Youth Alliance this season!