Iron in 7th heaven

The Iron will be in 7th heaven this evening - as the two sides Alan Knill put out combined to comfortably defeat a youthful Bottesford Town side on a glorious afternoon in the semi-urban suburbs of North Lincolnshire.

And despite the unexpected absences of Michael O'Connor and Garry Thompson, 7 different scorers made sure that the Iron fans who travelled the distance to Birch Park, went home reasonably happy.

Despite the sweltering conditions, the Iron played good stuff - most players impressed, and the trialist duo of Dominic Green & Mustafa Tiryaki did themselves absolutely no harm at all in attempting to secure contracts.

And Bobby Grant, Chris Dagnall, Paul Reid, Matt Godden, Mustafa Tiryaki, Mark Duffy and Jordan Robertson combined to make sure that the final score was a comfortable one as well.

All-round fitness and superios ability ensured that the Iron could show why they were 7 divisions above their counterparts, but it was just great to finally have the pre-season start.

Indeed, the previous 2 months seem to have gone lightning quick, and there are just 4 weeks until the start of the League One season.

Let's hope it goes as rapidly as the Iron re-build and build, for the coming season.

Indeed, the Iron's three trialists of Stephen Brogan, Dominic Green and Mustafa Tiryaki have all been announced by Chris Brass and Alan Knill to be granted more time to impress for the Iron.

The first half began with the fans flooding round the humble ground, the smell of burgers and chips floated round - and all mingled happily.

The Iron began the game with Josh Lillis in goal, behind the back four of Andy Wright, Michael Nelson, Niall Canavan and Stephen Brogan.

There was then a midfield narrow three of Sam Togwell, Michael Collins and Dominic Green.

Then as a front three, it was Matt Godden, Mustafa Tiryaki and Chris Dagnall.

The game began with a surprisingly high tempo, as the semi-professionals were desperate to prove their worth - although it was bound to be counter-productive in the long term as the Iron's superior fitness was bound to tell.

It was a nice early move that gave the Iron the lead, a lovely triangle down the left and a surging Brogan run and cross was met by the angling run of Tiryaki who flicked home.

This was nice football - and after 17 minutes, the visitors' lead was doubled. It however did have a touch more fortune about it.

The Bottesford backline failed to clear properly - and the ruthless GODDEN who curled home, courtesy of a huge deflection for the Iron's second.

The goals then came thick and fast and it was Dagnall who joined in the festivities. Green raced to the byline gracefully - and pinged the ball back to the unmarked Scouse forward who tapped it home.

Despite the Iron's patent dominance, this was to be the final goal of the first half as the sun got more and more piercing.

The Iron's side then changed completely over the interval.

Sam Slocombe was now in goal, behind the back four of Eddie Nolan, Michael Raynes and Michael Nelson and 1st year professional Ashley Palmer.

In front of them were Andy Hughes and Jimmy Ryan in the middle - and then the ever dangerous Mark Duffy and Andy Barcham on the flanks.

This thus left Jordan Robertson and Bobby Grant as the Iron's front two strikers.

Thus, as the Iron found more goals in the 2nd half, it took less than ten minutes for the first to appear.

And it was GRANT who duly delivered - as he turned smartly, skinned his marker and then lashed in a vicious effort from 25 yards. Great goal.

Then with 25 minutes to go, the Iron's hand was full as they made it 5.

It was a nice short corner routine as the cross was floated to the back and REID who met the ball on the volley, and despite spooning it into the ground, its duly bounced nastily over the out of position keeper and into the net.

Then, with the nearly 700-strong attendance counting the value for money, it was Duffy who plundered home the half-dozenth goal.

The ball was fed to DUFFY - who on the edge of the area sent a lovely curling strike past the desperate dive of the keeper.

Then, with ROBERTSON fed the ball late on inside the area - he was able to fire home right into the corner, as the Iron struck up their 7th.

This was it for the Iron - whose 23 players, following the late appearance of Wint, and the 93rd minute first booking - it was the Iron who walked, drove, ran and biked home victorious.

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