Double Blunder Foils Town

By: Martin Copass
Date: 27/01/2003

THE first reserve game of the year saw Paul Wilkinson having to field a very young team as the injury problems continue to take their toll on Town’s paper thin squad.

A cold and dismal day was not made any better by the football serve up by the two sides as both sides struggled to really trouble either keeper.

Only Jonathan Rowan in the Town side could claim real first team experience, the rest were a mixture of reserve team regulars and youth team players. American trialist Jake Sagare took his place up front along side Chris Thompson, and newly signed Andrew Pettinger started the game in goal.

With barely two minutes gone, Greg Young left the field for around five minutes for treatment, and it was shortly after his return that Town nearly took the lead through Jonathan Rowan, but the effort was cleared off the line by the Scunthorpe defence.

Apart from the goal, this was the nearest that Town came to scoring in a disappointing first half. It was after 26 minutes that the visitors took the lead, when a cross from Scunthorpe’s O’Connor was deflected into his own goal by defender Greg Young. Town had never really looked like troubling the Scunthorpe keeper, but a fine 25-yard effort by Thompson was only parried by keeper Cap into the path of Rowan who tapped in from close range. Thompson again came close right on half time when a speculative effort from 30 yards dipped towards the goal only to be pushed over the bar for a corner.

The second half saw even less real opportunities for either side, despite their best efforts to increase their goal tally, both sides struggled and it was amazingly a second own goal that decided the game. Good work down the right ended with a cross being whipped in across the Town goal and defender Liam Parker facing the wrong just hit the ball into his own net.

With it now getting even colder, and chances few and far between, the final whistle seemed to be a welcome forthcoming event especially after the referee added on four extra minutes!!

With the line- up being such a young one, maybe the performance could be excused, but the lack of goal scoring opportunities made the cold afternoon seem very long indeed.

For Town, Chris Thompson stood out as the best player, and it could seen as mildly amusing to hear the Scunthorpe full back was booked for arguing with one of his own players!!

Town Pettinger, Parker L, Davy, Rowan (Nimmo 90), Wheeler Young, Downes, Bolder, Thompson (Lightowler 85). Sagre, Hockless.

Subs not used. Newton, Smith, Morfitt.

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