All the chatter on our 69-mile journey east, dodging all the Bank Holiday shoppers on the motorway, was about our previous expeditions to the Iron’s former home The Old Show Ground. The common theme was that regardless of the decade, we don’t often return with three points. There were memories of cup defeats too, it’s fair to say we weren’t all optimistic about our prospects.
Scunthorpe United were the first team in over 30 years to move home; they moved to their current location back in 1988. Their move perhaps sparked the modern-day trend of rebuilding or relocating that we see with many of the 92 clubs. Glanford Park perhaps lacks the character of their former home but it’s easily accessible, built in an area with plenty of space and its capacity is just about right for the town.
Without the chance of finding a normal chippy open anywhere between the ground and Cleethorpes, we rolled into the car park resigned to the backstop of a couple of fast-food chains that were guarding the entrance to the ground. Well, I say fast-food, but the Greetland Shayman placed his order for chips and ended up leaving empty handed. It seems they either forgot about him or perhaps didn’t appreciate his lack of ambition when it came to their colourful menu.
With advanced admission of £20, we were allocated three blocks of seating behind the far goal. The purple paint and turquoise-coloured seats have perhaps seen better days, but the stewards were friendly, and the view was not too bad either.
The Shaymen attacked the far end of the ground in the first half, and the game was frenetic in the early stages without anyone getting time to settle. The home side perhaps had more of the ball, but chances were few and far between for either side. The game sprang to life just before half-time with a red card for the home side and an audible gasp in the away end signalled the infringement under the referee’s nose. If our red card at Wealdstone was debatable, then this must come under the cast-iron variety, at least from our viewpoint at the far end of the ground.
Scunthorpe took the lead early in the second half, much to the delight of the 5000 or so home fans. They were already in defence mode before bolting up the wing, cutting in, and scoring with a deflected shot. The Shaymen equalised at our end only a few minutes later. To the untrained eye, it looked for all the world like Bray had had he killer touch, but apparently not. The 347 travelling Shaymen were again in full voice backed by a beating drum.
The final half hour was like a lesson in possession for the Shaymen. The home team hardly touched the ball with the exception of their keeper grabbing a few wayward crosses. The Iron were hanging on, desperate to hold the point they had, whilst the Shaymen lacked that killer pass into the box for a winner.
In the end we settled for a draw, it was perhaps the result that we would have taken driving across earlier in the day. In reality, it felt like it should have been more given the player advantage we had for the second half. Nevertheless, the players gave it their all. It just wasn’t to be on the day.
Next up and we’re off back down south to Roots Hall and a visit to Southend United, now there’s a place we’re due a win at.
C’mon Shaymen!
Miles on the road: 1260. Goals on the road: 4 Points on our travels 4
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