FC Halifax Town 0 Scunthorpe United 1

Last updated : 28 July 2012 By Aidan McCartney

Grant struck just after the hour mark for what proved to be the only goal as Alan Knill’s men recovered after their disappointing home defeat to Grimsby Town on Tuesday. 

The Iron fielded a strong looking team aside from trialists Tom Newey and Yami Cadamerie at centre-half and Connor Jennings, who was making his first start of the pre-season alongside Mike Grella in attack.

The League One side controlled proceedings in the opening stages, and they had the best chance when Jennings was unable to finish in the area after neat build-up play by Jimmy Ryan and Grella.  

As the first-half wore on the Shaymen grew in confidence and Sam Slocombe was called into action to tip Jamie Rainford’s curled shot around a post.

Knill was forced to replace Cadamerie with Niall Canavan due to an injury just before the break and then swapped Grella with Grant at half time.

It was the substitute who was the match-winner in the 65th minute, getting on the end of an excellent Callum Kennedy diagonal ball to expertly dink the ball past Matty Glennon as he raced out of his goal.

After taking the lead, Knill introduced two more trialists, full-back Niall Wellington and former Cheltenham Town winger Brian Smike.

The home side nearly equalised just four minutes after Grant’s goal, when Lee Gregory headed wide after a cross beat the Iron defenders in the box.

But Scunthorpe held out to claim a battling victory in a dull game, with Newey and Jennings standing out with fine displays.