The Iron ended Oxford United's unbeaten run of seven games with their third successive 1-0 win over them at the Kassam Stadium.
It was a case of after the Lord Mayor's party following their win over Charlton Athletic in the Worthington Cup in midweek.
Four of Oxford's five wins this season have been away from home and they seem incapable of finding the same form at their new 'stadium'.
Take nothing away from Scunthorpe though who were the better and more organised side throughout and only a brilliant diving save by Andy Woodman from Wayne Graves after nine minutes prevented them from taking an early lead.
Eight minutes later when a free-kick was conceded five yards outside the area Peter Beagrie just cleared the bar.
Oxford never threatened and it was no surprise when the Iron took the lead after 58 minutes.
A hard driven cross by Matt Sparrow was stopped by James Hunt's hands and Woodman, Oxford's hero in the penalty shoot out against Charlton, could do nothing to keep out Beagrie's spot kick. The veteran celebrated the goal in style with his trademark backflip.
The home side made frantic attempts to get on terms and in the last three minutes Jamie McCombe kicked the ball off the line from Andy Scott and goalkeeper Tom Evans comfortably saved a low drive by one time scunny loanee Manny Omoyimni.
Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws, who upset Oxford boss Ian Atkins by remarks he made three years ago when Atkins managed Northampton Town said after the match: "We knew after the Charlton match and from some comments he made during the week that they would be wound up and I'm disappointed we didn't finish them off earlier.
"I thought we matched them in most departments and were even better in some of them."
Atkins attributed the defeat to the players' exertions against Charlton.
"It took a heavy toll on them and I thought they looked shattered," he said.
"Scunthorpe were sharper than us all over the pitch."
Atkins was angry with the referee's decision to give Scunthorpe a penalty, something he wasnt shy about commenting on in his after match press conference where he said: "It was an absolute disgrace and it was no coincidence that it was right in front of the Scunthorpe fans.