With the senior squad on their pre-season tour of the United States, a mixture of reserve and youth players were in action for United in a 3-3 draw with Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park. 

Goals from Matthew Williams, Chris Eagles and Eddie Johnson were enough to get the visitors a draw, in a very entertaining friendly. 

The game started in a lively fashion, with United having the better of the early exchanges. Neil Wood could have given the Red Devils the lead inside the opening 5 minutes, but his effort dragged wide of the Iron goal. 

United continued to pile pressure on their Third Division opponents and deservedly took the lead on the ten minute mark. Welsh striker Matthew Williams picked the ball up on the left flank, and did well to cut inside the Scunthorpe defence before neatly finishing past Tom Evans. 

It was another impressive performance from Williams, who bagged a brace in the 3-3 friendly draw with Altrincham last week, and could well be introduced to some senior team duties next season. 

United had chances to double their lead, with Chris Eagles and Eddie Johnson both going close, but it was the home side who found the net next. 

With 25 minutes on the clock, Kevin Sharp played a pass from a free-kick to Peter Beagrie who fired the ball home from just outside the penalty area. 

The equaliser was followed by a long spell of pressure from the visitors, who came close to recapturing their lead just four minutes after Beagrie’s strike, with Eddie Johnson having a shot cleared off the line. 

Once again, United failed to make a long spell of pressure pay, and it was Scunthorpe who found the net next courtesy of an Ian Kilford strike. Kilford latched on to a pass from Peter Beagrie before skipping past two challenges and bravely chipping the ball over the advancing ‘keeper. 

The goal, which put Scunthorpe into the lead, came as a real wake up call to United, who equalised just three minutes later. Danny Byrne made an excellent run down the right wing, and fed a neat ball through to Chris Eagles who finished superbly on the half-volley. 

Scunthorpe hit back though, with Steve Torpey’s header from a giving the Iron the lead. The goal came at the best possible time for the home side, and they went in at half-time a goal to the good. 

Half Time – Scunthorpe United 3-2 Manchester United XI 

After a superb first half, the second 45 minutes failed to live up to it’s predecessor, with both sides making a series of substitutions. 

Goalkeeper James Jowsey, and Phillip Bardsley were introduced for United during the interval, with Scunthorpe making three half-time changes. 

After a slow paced start to the half, the Iron came close to increasing their lead. Peter Beagrie was on the end of a Lee Ridley corner, but his powerful shot came off the cross bar. 

United found an equaliser, with 57 minutes on the clock. Eddie Johnson picked up the ball from the left, cut inside beating two defenders, and skilfully finished past Evans.  

After the equaliser, the game became a bit of a non-event, with both sides making more substitutions. Ramon Calliste and David Poole were brought on by United.  

Scunthorpe’s Lee Featherstone had the best chance of the closing moments, with a diving header that went inches wide of Jowsey’s right post. 

Scunthorpe made a couple more changes in the last few moments, and the pace of the game slowed down, and fizzled out to a draw. 

The game will have provided a good workout for the United team, with a couple of players standing out. 

Matthew Williams, and Eddie Johnson were both impressive and could well stake a claim for a couple of senior appearances next season. 

A United side of similar standard will play Tamworth on Saturday in their next warm-up match for the campaign ahead. 

Full Time – Scunthorpe United 3-3 Manchester United XI

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