Adam Yates reports from the Marine Travel Arena…
Danny Whitehall came to the rescue for the Iron as Scunthorpe avoided defeat in the North West coming from behind against Marine to win 2-1 at the death.
Scunthorpe striker, Mark Beck nearly gifted Marine an own goal in the opening minute. Luckily keeper, Ross Fitzsimmons was in the right place at the right time to save his teammate.
Marine got the deserved opener after seventeen minutes. Harvey Gregson headed the ball from the touchline and after some pinball defending, midfielder Leigh Whelan drove low past the keeper from outside the area.
Scunthorpe had no golden chances in the first half to the growing frustration of their impressive travelling contingent as Marine may have felt hard done by not to have some key refereeing decisions go their way especially in the final third.
The second half was all Scunthorpe United as Marine, for the most part, sat back and invited the Iron onto them.
On the hour mark, Marine’s afternoon began to unravel. Captain Josh Wardle was punished for handling Danny Whitehall on the goal line for what looked like an extremely soft penalty which was duly awarded. Whitehall stepped up and placed the ball in the corner of the net.
Marine fought on but a second goal looked to be coming for United and they got it on a plate in injury time. Defender Joe Mattock handed Danny Whitehall his second of the day via a misjudged clearance and the striker placed the ball in the same location as his earlier penalty.
The final game before Christmas sees Marine take on a familiar foe in South Shields up in the North East this Saturday before a festive fixture on Boxing Day when Chester head to Crosby.
Marine (4-5-1): Corran; Brown, Wardle, Mattock, J. Butler; Charley Doyle (Robinson 65′), Gregson (Lusiama 90), Agius (Holmes 78), Sinclair-Smith (Thomas 69); Murphy (Atcheson 90)
Subs not used:
Scunthorpe (5-3-2)
Fitzsimons; Nicholson (Barrows 72), Kelly, Evans (Boyce 55), Clunan, Harris (Whitehall 65); Denton, Scales, Roberts (Kouogun 90) ; Brogan (Ubaezuonu 55), Beck.
Referee: Jonathan Chadwick
Attendance: 1342