Scunthorpe United (U18s) 2-2 Hartlepool United (U18s)

Scunthorpe United (U18s) 2-2 Hartlepool United (U18s)

EFL Youth Alliance

Thursday 20th April 2023

After last week’s ‘roll your sleeves up and grind out a win’ type game versus Huddersfield in the torrential rain at Glanford Park, this was another brilliant example of the lads at Scunthorpe having a ‘Never Say Die’ attitude and grafting to earn a reward as Josh Robertson’s injury-time equaliser salvaged a point against Hartlepool.

Played at Brumby Hall, which has seen a lawn-mower since my last visit, a point was the least that Scunthorpe deserved because having gone in 1-1 at the break thanks to an equaliser from Harry Elliott-Bell (who put in an OUTSTANDING shift), they totally dominated the second half and created multiple chances - only for the inevitable to happen and for them to fall behind from a set-piece with about a quarter-of-an-hour to go!

A weaker team and one with a weaker mentality might have crumbled in these circumstances - and even in the pleasant sunshine as opposed to the pouring rain of six days ago, it did feel like it was going to be one of those ‘bad days at the office’ right up to the moment deep into injury-time when Ewan Oxborough sent a long ball over the top, Josh Robertson got in-behind the defender and then ‘shanked’ the ball past the Poolies ‘keeper and into the net.

A timely equaliser and deserved on the balance of play because if Hartlepool had won, it really would have been a ‘smash and grab’ on their part!

Having also played away at Mansfield on Tuesday and lost 3-0 in a game which was actually a lot closer than the scoreline suggests, this was Scunthorpe’s second fixture in the space of 48 hours so you might have expected a few tired legs.

That was just never the case though because the Iron started well and even put the ball in the net early on, albeit by the time Charlie Burden-Whittleton struck his shot from about eight yards out, the whistle had long since been blown so it was never going to count.

Hartlepool, in their change kit of red and black, had their decent spells though and after Ewan Oxborough made a comfortable early stop and their dangerous No.9 (Ethan McBride; who was decent in spells) sent a free header wide, the visitors actually took the lead with about 25 minutes played when Campbell Darcy made some intelligent movement inside the box as he left his man, went round the back of everyone and was then unmarked at the back-post to connect with a free-kick and send the ball into the empty net.

A disappointing goal to concede from a defensive viewpoint and at 1-0 to the Poolies, it was clear Scunthorpe had work to do to get back into this game.

The Iron remained frustrated for a while and after the first yellow card of the game went to Hartlepool’s No.4 for a tackle which left a mark on Harrison Poulter’s knee (not malicious; just late) the frustrations showed when Scunny won a corner and Charlie Burden-Whittleton’s subsequent delivery went straight into the side-netting. It happens sometimes!

However, within a few minutes, the Iron dug deep to level things up.

The equaliser came about as the referee allowed play to continue after Josh Robertson got on the ball and was tackled as he was driving through the middle and having knocked it onto Harrison Poulter (who himself advanced into the box), he played it back to Charley Strouther whose cross eventually ended up at the back-post where Harry Elliott-Bell bundled it home from a few yards out. Hartlepool should have got it clear as there were a couple of opportunities to do so, but didn’t, and that was the punishment.

Inspired by his goal, HEB’s own performance and confidence levels went up a few notches from this point onwards as he really started to dominate things and just a few moments later, he tracked back superbly - getting deep inside his own half to win possession from Hartlepool’s No.7 who unfortunately sustained an ankle injury and had to be substituted.

The Poolies went close to re-taking the lead just before half-time as a corner (which came after a brilliant defensive header by Josh Robertson) saw the No.5 again make a similar problematic run to how he scored his earlier goal, only this time he sent his header from a more central area high over Ewan Oxborough’s crossbar.

For a while after the re-start, it was then the Harry Elliott-Bell show and he almost scored the goal of the season (in the entire North-East Youth Alliance, let alone the club) when he connected to Charlie Burden-Whittleton’s corner full on the volley and hit the ball with such precision that it was going in the top corner, only for Josh Robertson to inadvertently get in the way of his effort whilst trying his best to duck, which allowed Hartlepool to frantically clear their lines. It was a massive chance!

A minute later, HEB then played a defence-splitting pass through to Harrison Poulter which was worthy of applause alone and that saw the talisman have a powerful shot tipped away, before the Scunny No.11’s next involvement saw him win possession on the half-turn just outside the centre circle and instinctively accelerate towards goal with sheer determination only for his fizzing low drive to be saved too. Top quality play - and if that had gone in, it would have also been some goal as well!

Scunny’s pressure continued as Harrison Poulter saw a 20-yard attempt just clear the upright whilst Josh Robertson combined with an overlapping Charley Strouther who fired into the side-netting - both chances coming from quick throw-ins, and as Hartlepool continued to look very shaky, static and vulnerable at the back, HEB met another corner (this time with his head) but couldn’t keep the ball down.

By now, given the complete dominance, pressure and chances since half-time, Scunthorpe deserved to be infront, 100%, but if you don’t take your chances it can sometimes come back to bite you - and that soon looked as if it would be the case as Hartlepool went 2-1 up direct from a corner with 15 minutes to go. The No.8 (Joe Kitching) swung the ball right into the mixer and despite the desperate attempts of either Ben Pike or Josh Cunningham on the goal-line - one of whom swung a leg at it, the ball ended up in the net and against the run of play, Hartlepool now had the lead and looked favourites to win.

With a few youngsters replacing some of the ‘older heads’ in Scunny’s team in the latter stages, it seemed as if it might be one of those days where the lads just didn’t get what they deserved on the balance of play.

But as I’ve said many times before whenever I’ve watched Scunny this season - no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the challenge, I’ve always been impressed by their fight and spirit and deep into injury-time, they got a slice of good fortune to level things up.

Just a few moments after Ewan Oxborough had won praise from the Hartlepool dugout with a good clearance down the line under a lot of pressure, the Iron ‘keeper went direct again and hit a ball forward which bounced right on the edge of the opposition area. The Hartlepool defender was just slightly of position as it bounced and that allowed Josh Robertson to creep in-behind him, into a goal-scoring position and although his connection wasn’t the best (it was a proper ‘shank’ rather than a strike), he got enough on it to send it across the ‘keeper and into the net.

The Poolies ‘keeper (who’d had a good game) just collapsed to his knees; gutted at having been so close to a victory which wasn’t now to be, whilst Robertson and everyone in a claret and blue shirt celebrated together!

On the whole, it was very much a deserved point from a Scunthorpe perspective because they created so many chances in the second half that if they’d have just put away half of what they created, they’d have won comfortably. But on a poor pitch (even though it’s in better condition now than it was a few months ago) nobody can deny the application, energy, effort, determination and persistence that these lads show time and again. It’s admirable, it’s good - that was all evident in this game as were the glaring bits of quality that were so impressive.

Individually, there were some good performances. 

Josh Robertson deserved his goal at the end and put in a solid shift where he controlled certain bits and pieces of play in midfield and covered lots of ground. Charley Strouther (albeit someone needs to sort him out with an emergency loan to a tanning salon) was good and played his part in another goal which he ought to be pleased with. Harrison Poulter had a quiet morning by his own standards but still posed a threat at times and got a couple of shots off, and Lucas Dickinson showed a few nice bits of aggression that I liked which I’ve not seen previously.

However, the undoubted ‘Man Of The Match’ was Harry Elliott-Bell who was outstanding for all the reasons already mentioned - so many positive things on such a horrible pitch and given his height, physicality, competitiveness, desire, engine and energy, all else I can really add is that I hope someone reads this (whether it be Scunthorpe United with a pro contract offer or another club), and takes a chance on him because he was so good in this game, he was very impressive last week, he’s impressed me several times before - even stemming back to last season, and it was a pleasure to watch him DOMINATE this game and be a driving force that I know he’s got in his locker. 

Having watched over 125 games this season (including a lot at U18s, U21s and non-league level), I’ll always back my own judgements on players and HEB’s performances in the past week have been right up there. Pure quality. Lots of time for it, lots of respect for it, keep it going! 

Hartlepool themselves had a few good players on show. Amongst them, Ethan McBride was quick and lively and posed a threat before having a more quiet second half; Joe Kitching was neat with his footwork and deserved his goal too - especially as it came just a moment or two after he’d been decent with his technique to almost dance his way into the box and flash a shot through the goalmouth, and Campbell Darcy was useful - especially at offensive set-pieces where he posed a major threat and got one goal from it.

I’ve not seen Hartlepool since the start of the season when they got walloped by Doncaster in a game that was pretty much over within 20 minutes but the improvement from that game and this one was obvious. They looked okay at times, more so in the first half, and it was good to see.

And fingers crossed for Hartlepool’s No.7 (Millen Burnett) who went to hospital after being substituted and was clearly in some discomfort - hopefully it’s nothing too serious and he’ll be back on a football pitch doing what he loves soon!

Scunthorpe United: Ewan Oxborough, Finn Abraham, Josh Cunningham, Ben Pike, Oakley Hill, Harry Elliott-Bell, Lucas Dickinson (Charlie Nicholson), Josh Robertson, Charley Strouther (Jacob Cawthra), Charlie Burden-Whittleton, Harrison Poulter.