Accrington Stanley 0-2 Scunthorpe United

Despite it not having been as fluent or domineering all-round performance as Wycombe, it was a better end-result for the Iron as they pushed on into the next round of the Carling Cup.

The 1st half certainly wasn't the Iron's finest hours, and whilst they left it late: a dominating 2nd half performance meant that a Chris Dagnall penalty and Andy Barcham curler were enough to send the Iron home from Lancashire happy.

Having made 2 changes from the draw away to Wycombe, Jimmy Ryan was also sent packing very early after a thunderous tackle from his opposing full-back.

Whilst it put a dampener on it, Iron manager Alan Knill said he was hopeful it was just a dead leg, albeit he would have to wait and see.

Cheered on by the buoyant loyal away following - it was nice to see both Chris & Andy get off the mark for the Iron this season - and the latter full stop.

And whilst the open, often barely safe - away terrace wasn't conducive to noise, the somewhat primitive surroundings of the Crown Ground made for a proper football Tuesday night clash.

And with all the non-European occupied sides now entering the draw at the 2nd Round, (including Liverpool no less) - the Iron will be hoping for either a signature draw or a real opportunity to progress into the 3rd Round for the second season on the spin.

Scunthorpe started the game with Josh Lillis in goal - behind the unchanged back four of Eddie Nolan, Paul Reid, Michael Nelson and Andy Wright.

The flat midfield four to begin with were Jimmy Ryan, Michael Collins (in for the rested O'Connor), Sam Togwell and Mark Duffy.

Thus with Robertson on the bench with a cast on his broken wrist - this left the incoming Garry Thompson to partner Chris Dagnall up front.

And on the very youthful looking bench for the Iron were Sam Slocombe, Ashley Palmer, Bobby Grant, Andy Barcham, Jordan Thewlis, Jordan Robertson and Aron Wint.

But as mentioned, after the dull-back Dean Winnard thundered in with an extremely bitter tackle very early on - the Iron were forced to replace ex-Accrington dynamo Jimmy Ryan with Andy Barcham.

And it was the hosts who went on to dominate proceedings.

The gangly forward Guthrie for Accrington proceeded to get behind the Iron defence time after time with consummate ease.

Indeed - had he been able to finish, the Iron would easily have been 3 goals down after 20 minutes - and 1 down after about 20 seconds.

One was curled wide, one chipped straight into his hands - and the other he comfortably managed to dive and tip away.

All-hell also proceeded to break loose when it was fed through to Bennett making a run from midfield - Lillis deciding to come after hesitating: and despite the Stanley player rounding Lillis at a tight angle: his pull-back was poor and the Iron were able to hack away.

There wasn't much quality in the first half - but whatever it was, it was coming from the hosts: who were making the Iron look rather lethargic and rusty indeed.

But after half an hour, the Iron really should have taken the lead against the run of the play with the best move of the match so far.

It was a great through ball by Dagnall - which Thompson raced on to. He raced past the keeper Murdoch, clipped a hanging ball to the back post to Barcham: who albeit under pressure, rose - but with the open goal gaping, could only send his header over the bar.

This was the last real concrete chance of the half - albeit the home side were certainly looking the more threatening.

HALF-TIME ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0-0 SCUNTHORPE UNITED

But it was a big step up by the Iron in the second half, as in the black away kit, attacking the away army as they really put their Lancashire hosts under the cosh.

And with just a few minutes on the 2nd half clock, the Iron had two big penalty shouts turned down.

The first was a great through ball to Dagnall - who whilst tumbling in the box, was probably looking for it. It was certainly a foul, and you've seen them given - but not away to Accrington you haven't!

That said, the 2nd was stonewall.

It was great interchange involving Duffy again - who tried to whip in the cross: only to see it blocked by an Accrington arm.

He wasn't miles away, but with his arm out: only the referee seemed uninterested in pointing to the spot. Mmmm......

An out-swinging corner was then perilously close to be bundled over the line by the Iron, but with no-one really sure and it seemingly close - the referee waved play on.

A Duffy free-kick from the edge of the area was then curled up and over the wall, but it was a comfortable save for the keeper Murdoch.

And whilst the sun had gone down to the Iron fans' relief, he was easily visible in his bright fluorescent green safety jersey!

The Iron were seemingly getting closer as a fabulous cross from the left this time was whipped in by Barcham - and miraculously flicked on to the bar by the defender, with Dagnall at the back post seemingly destined to score.

But sadly, one of the Iron's 15 corners couldn't be prodded into the back of the net.

Another through ball was then fed to Thompson up the right, and from a tight angle forced the Stanley stopper to palm wide at his near post: but the ex-Morecambe man never looked like scoring from that angle really sadly.

The Iron were turning and turning the screw, but you began to feat that it could turn out like Wycombe and not finding that all-important goal.

Indeed, extra time was certainly looming when the Iron finally broke the deadlock with just 7 minutes left.

It was a great through ball up the left, with the lightening quick Andy Barcham latching on to it - but was barged over by an extremely exuberant defender, with the referee having no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

So when CHRIS DAGNALL stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to give the Iron the lead - the away end was dancing as they could smell the 2nd round.

Despite several hanging balls into the box, and one desperate scramble - the Iron never really looked scoring.

And then, just as we were entering stoppage time, the Iron put themselves out of sight.

It was a great counter-attack, with blistering pace, and with ANDY BARCHAM running with options left and right, he was given the time and space to curl in the corner past the helpless keeper for a lovely finish.

And that was how the game itself ended really, the Iron dominant in the 2nd half - not fluent in the 1st, and just waiting for the Second Round Draw.

(Which incidentally, takes place on Thursday night!)

FULL-TIME ACCRINGTON STANLEY 0-2 SCUNTHORPE UNITED

Andy Barcham

He was a constant threat down the flank, and with his genuinely lightening pace - was a constant thorn in Accrington's side with decent service.

An end product always looked likely, and having won the penalty - and then scored a peach of his own - it was certainly a very productive afternoon from the winger.

No matter how serious Ryan's injury turns out to be, he's really put himself in the frame for a starting place on Saturday. And deservedly so.

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