A point apiece produced different rewards for promotion-chasing United and Torquay at Plainmoor today.
It lifted The Iron into the third automatic promotion spot, above Bournemouth on goal difference, while it dropped Torquay two places to 11th - yet so tight is the play-off traffic jam that only three points separate the two clubs.
A cool eighth minute finish saw Matt Sparrow chip Scunthorpe's opener past advancing keeper past Arjan Van Heusden.
It was a sweet moment for Paul Hayes, the young striker whose run and cross set up the goal, who had been turned down after a trial at Torquay earlier in the season.
Scunthorpe keeper Tommy Evans tipped a Jason Fowler free kick onto his post in the 20th minute, and the Gulls gradually wound up the pressure in search of an equaliser.
The second half was virtually one way traffic, with Torquay enjoying a strong wind at their backs.
Evans and right-back Nathan Stanton were outstanding as Scunthorpe battled away in defence of Sparrow's goal.
And it wasn't until the 82nd minute that Torquay midfielder Simon Clist, on loan from Bristol City, finally tapped in a right wing cross by substitute Matt Hockley.
Scunthorpe were lucky not to lose it in the last few minutes and manager Brian Laws said afterwards that he was `not unhappy` with a point from the game.