Scunthorpe United 2 Kidderminster Harriers 1

Last updated : 05 February 2005 By Iron-Bru @ Glanford Park
Baraclough
The home side always had the upper hand but were unable to turn their quality approach play into goals.

Again it was young defender Andy Butler who stole the honours with a solid display, while big frontman Steve Torpey had an impressive game and gave the visiting defence a tough time.

Senegal defender Abdou Sall played a pivotal role and his battle with Torpey was a real feature, while Gary Birch was prominent in both defence and attack for the Midlanders.

Scunthorpe's new striker Jonathan Walters almost made a dream start as inside the opening two minutes he had a golden chance.

Torpey flicked the ball on for Walters and as John Danby advanced he lobbed the ball over him but was unable to get round the keeper and it ran out of play.

Kidderminster were struggling to make any impression and were forced into a defensive role as the Iron played some excellent one-touch football.

That quality eventually paid off after 20 minutes when, following a free-kick on the left by Peter Beagrie, Richard Kell gathered the ball and set up Matthew Sparrow whose shot was blocked and came out to Ian Barraclough who quickly slammed home a left-foot shot.

Scunthorpe continued to dominate and another Beagrie free-kick sent was headed goalwards by Andrew Crosby but only into Danby's hands.

With the interval approaching, Kidderminster did begin to get the ball down and play football but failed to do themselves any favours.

In fact, United almost increased their lead in the 38th minute.

Kevin Sharp hoisted the ball in and Walters got round the defender before dispatching a right-foot against the post with the keeper well beaten.

The second half opened up but it was Scunthorpe still in the ascendancy and Torpey drove inches wide.

But on the hour mark Kidderminster were on level terms with their first shot on target.

Birch was the marksman, leaving Paul Musselwhite flat-footed as the ball took a deflection off Kell on its way into the net.

That seemed to wake Scunthorpe up and they finally grabbed what proved to be the winner in the 78th minute.

Crosby drove the ball through for Paul Hayes who ended a goal drought that had occurred since mid-December.