Rob Ramshaw fired home a wonderful late winner as Moors showed clinched an eye-catching victory over promotion favourites Scunthorpe United on Tuesday night.
The midfield ace struck a vicious curling shot into the top corner of the net to crown a sweeping counterattack and leave the league-leaders floored at The Brewery Field.
Graeme Lee’s men had come from behind to lead at the break but looked set to have to settle for a share of the points when The Iron came back to level – but then Ramshaw produced the fireworks as Moors enjoyed a Bonfire Night to remember.
With Glen Taylor still injured, Tom Allan was handed a debut after joining the Club on loan from Gateshead, while Ben Beals returned to the centre of defence and Nathan McGInley moved to left-back to replace the suspended Reece Staunton.
There was a high tempo opening to the game. Isaac Fletcher curled an effort just over from the edge of the box before Brad James was called into action to paw away Carlton Ubaezuono’s looping header.
Iron defender Brad Nicholson headed wastefully wide from a right-wing corner, before Allan almost announced his arrival with a goal but dragged his shot across and wide after great work from Ramshaw.
Scunthorpe took the lead out of nowhere just after the half-hour mark. Tyler Denton shifted the ball from left to right, finding Ross Barrows whose touch took him to the edge of the Moors area from where he unleased an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
It took just seven minutes for Moors to respond. Matty Dolan whipped a dangerous free-kick in from the right fringe of the penalty area, which deceived keeper Ross Fitzsimons and flew directly into the net at the far post for 1-1.
Things got even better before half time when for the second season in succession, Fitzsimons got his touch wrong and then compounded the error by upending Fletcher in trying to win the ball back. The referee pointed to the spot and Fletcher got up to confidently slide the penalty home to put Moors in front heading into the break.
Scunthorpe looked keen to start the second half well and could have got back on level terms on 51 minutes when danger man Callum Roberts found space 25 yards out to shoot but his effort was deflected wide.
There was more panic from the resultant corner though as Brad Nicholson’s shot picked up a deflection and looped menacingly down into the six-yard box where Brad James had to be brave to ensure the ball ended up in his hands after a bit of pinball.
Fletcher missed a great opportunity to make it 3-1 as the hour approached when the ball fell kindly to him on the edge of the six-yard box after more excellent play from Ramshaw, but he pushed his effort just wide of the post.
Moors have been punished by late goals in the last three games and that looked to be the case again when Olly Dyson tackle prompted the referee to award the visitors a penalty on 81 minutes. Roberts calmly slid his effort down the middle to make it 2-2.
However, on 84 minutes Moors were celebrating again. Former loan star Fin Shrimpton got on the wrong side of the referee as the ball bounced on the edge of the Moors box and that helped Callum Ross drive clear with possession to feed Ramshaw on the left. The skipper skilfully cut inside on his right foot before delivering a whipped finish across Fitzsimons and flew into the far top corner.
It was a moment which knocked the stuffing out of The Iron who rarely threatened to come back again, and Moors drew a line under back-to-back defeats on home soil with perhaps their most impressive result of the campaign.
Full Time: Moors 3 Scunthorpe United 2
Moors: James, Dyson, Ledger, Beals, McGinley, Dolan, Ross, Allan (Luck 90), Ramshaw, Fletcher (McKeown 75), Mondal (Hooper 86).
Subs not used: Barron, Myers.
Booked: Dolan (14), McGinley (66).
Scunthorpe United: Fitzsimons, Kouogun, Boyce, Nicholson, Barrows, Clunan, Scales, Denton, Roberts, Ubaezuonu, Beestin.
Subs not used: Kelly, Rowley.
Booked: Beestin (24), Barrows (68), Clunan (73), Fitzsimons (85).
Referee: Mark Bell
Attendance: 1,335 (178 Scunthorpe United)
