Scunthorpe United 2 v Chester 1 (AET) - National League North - Promotion Final
Sunday 18th May 2025 - National League North Promotion Play-Off Final - Scunthorpe United 2 ( Danny Whitehall 19, Carlton Ubaezuonu 105+1 ) v Chester1 (Connor Woods 62 pen) - After Extra Time - Attendance: 9,086 inc. 1,608 away fans. Which constitutes a new record attendance for any game ever played at Glanford Park… and also a new record for a National League North fixture.
Scunthorpe United: Fitzsimons, Kelly, Kouogun, Evans, Clunan (C), Beestin, Whitehall, Rowley, Ubaezuono, Starbuck, Denton. Substitutes - Campbell, Boyce, Fishburn, Brogan, Scales, Law, Fadera
Chester: Storer, Burke, Weeks (C), Peers, Mottley-Henry, Woodthorpe, Leek, Woods, Bainbridge, Murray, Roberts. Substitutes - Brown, Rawlinson, Willoughby, Lambert, O’Kane, Burgess, Mooney
Ninety scheduled minutes, an half-hour of extra-time and lord only knows how much stoppage-time at the end of all four periods of play… and it was (eventually) confirmed, just before 7pm, this game, that had originally started at 4pm, was finally over and Scunny were promoted to the National League. As the Iron fans celebrated long and hard on the pitch, we took advantage of the lack of pedestrians and traffic leaving the car-park to edge out cautiously towards the roundabout. There was an abrupt knock on my offside car window.
I opened it, with no small amount of trepidation and there stood the match referee: Mr Isacc Searle. ”Gotcha!’, he exclaimed, brandishing his yellow-card twice in our direction. ”Where did you pair think you were sneaking off to? Nobody is going anywhere until I have booked every last one of you fookers in this ground! Names!?”. That never really happened, but anybody who was present at Glanford Park this afternoon will understand the point that I am making. And any player who hadn't been cautioned today, must have found a bloody good hiding place, to keep out of harm's way.
Actually, there were two incidents in extra-time, where either/or even both team(s) could have easily have ended up with just ten players. But, it would seem that Mr Searle, had been using his yellow-card so liberally, because he had mislaid the red-one. In both instances players who’d already been booked, used their hands in a manner that more than warranted a second yellow.
One player (from Chester) used his to control a bouncing ball in the centre-circle, the other (from Scunthorpe) shoved an opposition player in the face, causing him to fall to the floor. It beggars belief that the referee was oblivious to both actions, as he was stood close by both times. The culprits shall remain nameless. Because, whatever else I might be, I’m not a grasser.
Roared on by a capacity crowd, with both sets of fans in good voice, there were a number of half-chances at both ends during the frantic opening exchanges. “Someone put a foot on it!”, “Slow it down! You've got all bloody afternoon!”… if only you knew the half of it, eh!? In the nineteenth minute, a breakthrough, as route one as they come on this ‘horse's for courses’ winner takes all occasion.
Joseph Starbuck’s long throw towards Chester’s goal was met by Michael Clunan, who crashed the ball against the upright… with the crowd oohing and aahing and the frame of the goal still shaking, the ball rebounded to Danny Whitehall, who stabbed it past Jimmy Storer from close-range.
The game was held-up due to a medical emergency in the crowd, but after a stoppage of around ten minutes, we were soonunderway again. With half-time approaching, a gap started to appear on the terracing in front of us. The stench that wafted our way soon explained why. One of the group of kids up against the crash-barrier a few steps had got so excited in the pandemonium after Whitehall’s goal that he’d, err… followed through… and cacked his pants.
Fortunately, somebody far more diplomatic than I could ever hope to be, suggested to the youngsters that if they made their way down to the front, they would get a much better view by leaning on the wall down there. Their relocation elsewhere, meant that Johnny Fartpants and his mates were someone else’s problem now, as we enjoyed a far more pleasant match watching experience. ‘Twas quite literally like a breath of fresh air. Whitehall had another chance on the stroke of half-time, but Chester got bodies in the way and it amounted to nothing.
As the second-half got underway, the Seals (because they used to play at Sealand Road), were almost two-goals behind, but Clunan’s half-volley from the edge of the area, deflected narrowly over the bar. A Chester attack appeared to be breaking down when a delivery from out on the left dipped towards Will Evans, who misjudged the flight of the ball as it hit his arm. Nothing deliberate, no clear goal scoring opportunity denied, but… that finicky Searle bloke sounded his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot.
Ross Fitzsimons dived one way as Connor Woods bent his shot just inside the post in the opposite direction. All square, anyone's game, pump up the drama. Moments later the visitors almost nicked a lead, but Harrison Burke’s looping head dropped over the Iron bar. Well, it’s and aluminium coated bar actually, but you know what I meant. With fifteen minutes remaining (of the scheduled ninety) Whitehall smashed the ball against the upright, from a long range free-kick, Storer, the on-loan keeper (from Wolves) was rooted to the spot as Carlton Ubaezuonu blazed the rebound well over the visitors goal. Played ebbed one way, then the other at a frenetic pace, it was, but neither team could find the vital touch that would settle this contest. It finished one apiece, meaning that there was going to be extra-time… and possibly even penalties.
As the first-half of extra-time went into added on time, a long free-kick into the Chester area fell to Mo Fadera, who flicked the ball sideways to Ubaezuonu, who's first shot was blocked but he found the net with his subsequent attempt. The second-half of extra-time went at least fifteen minutes past it's scheduled finish time. Hold ups for pitch invasions and all manner of bizarre twists and turns, usually revolving around one of the oddest refereeing performances I have ever seen, meant I was going to have to warm my tea up when I eventually got home tonight.
But something even more important than that occurred. Andy Butler’s Scunthorpe United hung onto their hard-won single goal margin and clinched their club’s first promotion for over a decade, into the National League. All told, it haf been a bloody great day out, in good company. Thanks to Reg and Steve for sorting out a ticket for me, after the Scunny website had kicked me out, when there was an issue with me trying to purchase one while I was away from home in Croatia. I’m made up for you both (and your mates) that your team finally gave you something to celebrate after so many miserable years.
Right you lot, you heard what the man said: “There will be no presentation of the the trophy until all spectators get off of the pitch”. Aye right!
