Scunthorpe United vs Plymouth Argyle. Sky Bet League One.
Glanford ParkAttendance4,712.
Tuesday 1 May 2018 23:20, UK
Scunthorpe confirmed their spot in the Sky Bet League One play-offs with a 2-0 win against fellow hopefuls Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday evening.
The victory sees Nick Daws' side leapfrog Charlton Athletic into fifth spot ahead of the final round of games on Saturday, with the Iron now mathematically guaranteed a top-six finish.
After a strong opening, Scunthorpe opened the scoring in the 32nd minute as Hakeeb Adelakun finished neatly, before Ivan Toney poked home from a Conor Townsend cross in the 60th minute.
Plymouth offered little in response and remain in seventh place with a three-point gap between themselves and Charlton, as well as six goals behind on goal difference.
Scunthorpe began well at Glanford Park and had could have gone ahead inside 10 minutes. Toney whipped an inviting ball across the face of goal, but Duane Holmes slipped as he went for the cross and could not connect before Adelakun poked the ball wide at the back post.
Argyle goalkeeper Remi Matthews was forced into a strong save in the 15th minute after a superb pass down the left-hand side of the field from Townsend picked out Holmes. But his cross into the area was pushed away by the stopper before Sonny Bradley cleared the rebounded ball.
Scunthorpe got their goal 17 minutes later with a lovely strike from Adelakun. He collected a headed ball forward before powering towards the top of the box and striking, sending his shot through the legs of Zak Vyner and into the back of the net.
The goal seemed to jolt both sides into action, with Graham Carey forcing a near-post save from Matt Gilks just minutes after, before Josh Morris saw his strike from the top of the area smothered by the oncoming Matthews.
Scunthorpe doubled their lead on the hour mark, with some good play from Holmes seeing him play the ball back to Townsend down the left. The latter then whipped a cross into the area that was turned home by the outstretched foot of Toney.
There could have been another goal 12 minutes later as Scunthorpe had chances to score from three successive corners. Jordan Clarke fired over the crossbar from two yards out, before Matthews was forced to push away a header from Rory McArdle. It was then a clearance off the line from Gary Sawyer to keep the hosts at bay for a third time.
The hosts had the ball in the back of the net with 10 minutes to play, but it was ruled out for offside. Adelakun delivered a brilliant free-kick into the area, which was headed home by McArdle but the linesman correct raised his flag and the goal was ruled out.
It's the final day of the Sky Bet League One season on Saturday, with Scunthorpe hosting Bradford while Plymouth are away at Gillingham.
