2010-11 Match Report CCFC v SCUNTHORPE

12.2.2011

CCFC 1 v 0 SCUNTHORPE

On the back of last Sunday’s epic victory against that little seaside town just west off Junction 42, a home game against lowly Scunny would surely be a men-against-boys-walk-in-the-park-and-fill -yer-boots forgone conclusion sort of a non-fixture. After all, last week while we were showing off our silky skills to a grateful nation of watching millions, The Iron were smelting 1-5 at home to Hull in front of one man, his dog and a few pensioners waiting for the Gala Bingo to open.

Scunthorpe managed to squeeze their single charabanc of fans into the 2,000 seat away area and were duly cruelly and rather pointlessly taunted with an ‘Is that all you take away?’ from the Canton End intellectuals. Apparently their fans chant the ‘Sunny Scunny Tripitakas’ which according to Wikipedia is ‘a traditional term used by various Buddhist sects to describe their various canons of scriptures’. Blimey, I think the Soul Crew have met their match with this lot.

The Buddha of course taught that to achieve a state of Nirvana (a supreme state free of suffering) you first have to acknowledge the ‘noble truth that is suffering’. Not a problem.  I think this is the religion for us.

The line-up was unchanged from the Swansea victory apart from Whittingham who failed a late fitness test. It was clear from the start that Scunthorpe had come to spoil the game and were intent on nothing more than damage limitation. They didn’t allow us any time on the ball and in their horrendous black and fluorescent lime green hoops swarmed around us like radioactive bees. In the first half although we enjoyed huge territorial advantage there was a lack of urgency and worrying signs of complacency. Ramsey was taking charge in midfield but from a position that was far too deep and although Bellamy was having an easy time of it out wide, the box seemed too congested and we were lacking any real cutting edge. Half time arrived with no goals to show and rumblings of discontent from a frustrated crowd.

The second half saw a slow improvement but we needed someone to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Call for Chris Burke!

On the hour Emmanuel-Thomas who had shown flashes but is looking like a bit of a luxury player was replaced by the busy Burke who enjoyed himself against a tiring Scunny defence who were now on the back foot. Koumas replaced an ineffective Chopra, with Bellamy moving into the centre and we started to make things happen at last. But still no goals.

With about 10 minutes to go Bellers left to be replaced by The Beast. Five to go and at last the breakthrough. A clever bit of work by Koumas followed by a floated cross onto the head of Parkin and Olofinjana pounced deep inside the box. 1-0. Relief all round.

A panic-induced Scunny then showed us, a bit late in the day, that they can play some decent football giving us one or two very late scares. But the points were ours. Next up a Tuesday evening game against Burnley, our game in hand, and another must-win if we are going to consolidate second place in our quest for Premier League Nirvana. ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ as they sing at Glanford Park.