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Tasty Tussles

  • Writer: Head Scout
    Head Scout
  • Oct 5
  • 8 min read

Updated: Oct 6

Scunthorpe United 0-1 Carlisle United (National League)


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I'm fully invested in the National League promotion race right now. Having already watched the top two in the table, Forest Green & Rochdale (who also play against each other today) and having seen Boreham Wood and Halifax who occupy the playoff positions, I now have a match between third and fourth at the Attis Arena, live on DAZN, a 5:30pm kick off between two old Football League foes in Scunthorpe and Carlisle.

 

Scunny have started magnificently, unbeaten after promotion last season, they have excelled in the early weeks under Andy Butler and will be considered serious promotion challengers, in the mix with several others, to go up again this season.

 

In that mix are Carlisle United, relegated from the Football League last season, Mark Hughes men are going well having signed Regan Linney from Altrincham in the summer, he's top scorer in the league with nine goals and United have bounced back after a couple of big defeats, to York and Rochdale, to beat Hartlepool in midweek, and get their season back on track.

 

On track am I, ahead of 3pm, as I battle storm Amy down the A46 towards Lincoln, up the A15 and across the M180 where the weather changes from bright to wet and back several times over.


 

The Ground

 

Eventually, I pull up on a housing estate which has a cut through to the car park at Glanford Park, cutting through a jitty (or ginnel) behind Chesterfield Road, the ground appears all grey, looking like a derelict warehouse in the distance.

 

A beautiful monstrosity, it's decrepit and unloved, from the outside the letters of former sponsors faded on the grey corrugated steel, floodlights rising high into the grey sky, the grey wasteland around the ground with the odd sporadic parked car between muddy potholes with fans getting out in coats and scarves all of an hour and half before kick-off.

 

I'm walking around the back of the Britcon Stand where the Iron Bar is packing the punters in, there's free NHS blood test stalls but I'm feeling queasy, instead opting straight for the media entrance, a little side door unassuming painted dark claret by a couple of turnstiles.

 

My name is on the list, unlike at Boston on Wednesday, and I'm through the walkway level with pitch side as I head for the catering hole and a cup of tea.

 

It smells of Balti Pies which make me hungry but I've got dinner to go back to tonight, so instead, I have a brew and a couple of bags of chocolate. The young girl serving takes an age to add up £7 in her head for some Milky Bar buttons, Aero minis and a tea.

 

Sat down with my cuppa at the top of the stand, you’re pretty close to the action from the press seats fifteen or so rows high, sporadic tables and sockets under the padded chairs, the Carlisle media team is behind along with Radio Humberside, a post in view to my left obstructs a bit of the penalty area, as I check my phone for the 3pm results, Forest Green have been beaten by Rochdale in the big game of the day. Scunthorpe are now the last team standing unbeaten, in the division.

 

I love the noise here, the fans pack in behind the goal and create a buzz by signing the Boon theme tune, ‘Iron, Iron’ is the usual shout, a low roofed bowl like venue, you’re enclosed, intimate, comfortable, cosy, the posh seats just below us have sponsors out taking selfies on the pitch, a guy sitting in front asking ‘what I’m doing’ and ‘do I come here often’ tells me he’s a West Ham fan, “at least you can wear your club colours today” I tell him.

 

The Game

 

The weather is changing, from grey to bright to rain and back as the wind sweeps across the soggy looking green surface, Carlisle in changed kit are defensively structured, rigid, rugged, whilst Scunthorpe attack with pace and power, taking little chances defensively themselves, go long on occasion, but aim is to get it out wide where Callum Roberts hogs the right touchline


The home side shape up with a traditional four in defence, two attacking full backs and two big centre halves, they have two in midfield, Oli Ewing and Zain Westbrooke two recent acquisitions, allowing number eight Alfie Beestin to get forward as he runs powerfully with the ball at his feet.


Beestin is a good player, but Scunthorpe’s best outlet is Roberts, he’s out right, cutting in on his left foot, young Hull City loanee Tyrell Sellars-Fleming is the other side, whilst Joey Dawson, son of Andy, brother of Michael and Kevin, a big footballing family in these parts, he’s up front, a big lad, ginger, he’s certainly got the Dawson genes.


I like the shape of Carlisle who come here with a gameplan. Their four defenders are all good solid looking players, shaping up in similar fashion to Scunthorpe, they have two attacking full backs with centre backs Hayden and Feeney both loving the battle as the rain swathes down onto the surface.


In midfield it’s a three from Ellis, Gilliead and Wearne whilst Regan Linney is busy on the left side of attack, right is Junior Luamba whilst George Kelly, number nine on his back, shaven headed, he’s really enjoying his tussle against Scunthorpe centre halves Evans and Boyce.


The Score


There’s not a lot between the two teams, Scunthorpe have a couple of sniffs and play some positive forward moves early on but Carlisle have had a corner crossed under the bar where Rory Watson in net looks shaky, their second corner in swinging on twenty minutes is another played into the six yard box by Archie Davies, Aaron Hayden is at the back post, unmarked, allowed to bundle one home from close range.

 

It’s their first attempt but Carlisle have the lead, and from there can set themselves up to be even harder to beat, and 'thou shall not pass' is their mantra, the next twenty minutes they pick up four bookings, whilst Andrew Boyce is carded for Scunthorpe after a ‘reducer’ on Georgie Kelly.


Irishman Kelly really impresses me, he sticks his arse into the centre halves and irritates them to give fouls away, winning more than his share of headers, he holds it up well and has a neat touch, he scored hat loads in the League of Ireland during his early career, not nearly as much since moving to England, but he’s a useful target man and brings others into play, intelligent, you can tell he enjoys the craic he gets off centre halves, laughing with the crowd as he plays party villain when they boo him for taking some spray off the physio on the touchline after Boyce straight legs him.


By now, Boyce is fired up, too fired up, he’s over aggressively gone to win a header against Junior Luamba, there’s an elbow involved, and it’s knocked Luamba for six, Referee Greg Rollason hasn’t exactly been shy with the cards today, he doesn’t hesitate to give Boyce a straight red.


That leads to subs all around, Luamba still dazed is taken off propped up by a team mate and physio as he heads down the tunnel, Joey Dawson is subbed by Andy Butler for defender Jean Belehouan. The first half ends in a chorus of boos and cries from the home crowd towards the officials of “you don’t know what you’re doing”.


At half time there’s another change for Scunthorpe as striker Danny Whitehall is introduced, I was surprised before kick-off, seeing their team with both he and Declan Howe on the bench, two forwards who have a very good knack of scoring goals, neither starting in such a big match.


But with both Howe and Whitehall now introduced, Carlisle are still not giving many chances away, they do what any good visiting side does and digs in, defends, slows down the game, but they break themselves and create opportunity for further damage, Harper forcing Watson into a diving stop to his right, Kelly scuffs a half chance wide after a goalmouth scramble, but the later the game goes on, the more ten men Scunthorpe take aim, a neat move ends with Ewing blasting agonisingly over, he should have done better, in added time Belehouan then smashes into orbit from close range, as the kitchen sink is thrown at the visitors, and a final chance, Roberts crosses to Howe who heads into the corner, I’ve already shouted out 'goal', knowing how prolific the former Gainsborough man is, often needing just one chance, but the effort comes off the inside of the post and is away to safety, the closest Scunthorpe would come, Carlisle relieved and welcoming, as the final whistle ends a good go given by the hosts, and a solid victory for Mark Hughes in North Lincolnshire.

 

The Stars


Georgie Kelly was my standout for Carlisle who I thought was brilliant on the day, but defensively they all played a part front to back, I like George Breeze in goal, a local lad, only 21, who bleeds blue and white.


Goalscorer Aaron Hayden was solid next to former Everton centre half Morgan Feeney, full backs Davies on the right and Harper in particular, on the left, got forward really well, and whilst Regan Linney perhaps had one of his quieter games, you can see the threat he offers, racing in to the box with the ball at his feet on the left. He’s the sort of powerful and pacey talisman that can be the difference between promotion, or not, in this division.


As for Scunthorpe, in a terrific, but tasty game, often interrupted by an overly strict Referee (who brandished nine yellow cards and a red), they played their part, and were man for man very good, in particular Alfie Beestin who often drove powerfully forward from attacking midfield positions and in Oli Ewing, who they signed from Leicester City in the summer. I watched him play on loan for Buxton last season where he impressed at National North and he looks a real talent for this level too, cultured, classy, lovely in possession but hard working, a real honest grafter who will run all day.


The Verdict


The National League table now reads Rochdale top on 30 points having beaten Forest Green Rovers who are second on 29, Carlisle now third level with FGR and a point above Boreham Wood on 28, Scunthorpe on 25 ahead of Halifax on 24 and York, Southend and Tamworth all on 22.


I honestly haven’t a clue, at this stage, how it’s going to go, but one thing for sure is that both Carlisle and Scunthorpe, have as good a chance as any of the others, in gaining promotion this season. They'll be many more twists and turns, points and goals, wins, draws and losses, it could even be the closest race for some time, so get strapped in because it'll no doubt be a bumpy ride for all involved.


The Teams


Scunthorpe United: Rory Watson, Joe Starbuck, Andrew Boyce, Will Evans, Tyler Denton, Zain Westbrooke (Declan Howe 76), Oli Ewing, Alfie Beestin, Callum Roberts, Joey Dawson (Jean Belahouan 44), Tyrell Sellars-Fleming (Danny Whitehall 46).


Carlisle United: Gabriel Breeze, Archie Davies, Aaron Hayden, Morgan Feeney, Cameron Harper, Stephen Wearne (Callum Whelan 90), Jack Ellis, Alex Gilliead (Josh Williams 77), Junior Luamba (Josh Grant 44), Georgie Kelly, Regan Linney (Luke Armstrong 77).


5:30pm Kick Off. Saturday 4th October 2025, Glanford Park, Scunthorpe (att 5,472).

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