Moors fell to just their second defeat in nine games as league-leaders Scunthorpe United kept their title challenge on track with a 2-0 triumph at The Attis Arena.

Goals from Michael Kelly in the first half and then substitute Carlton Ubaezuonu near the end were enough to help The Iron bounce back from last week’s surprise defeat at Radcliffe with a crucial win.

Graeme Lee restored Glen Taylor to his attack, while Michael Ledger was used at right-back to allow Olly Dyson to operate in midfield in the absence of Finley Shrimpton who couldn’t feature against his parent club.

However, it was Scunthorpe who were on the front foot in the early stages with Mo Fadera proving particularly troublesome down the left wing, driving a shot just too high with only three minutes on the clock.

He was involved again a couple of minutes later when danger man Callum Roberts scampered in behind the Moors defence only to drive his shot too high from a tight angle.

Kelly volleyed wide from 22 yards before an inswinging corner from Roberts caused chaos in the Moors area only for the ball to bounce on top of the bar on its way over.

The breakthrough came on 18 minutes. More good work from Fadera saw him slalom inside from the left and send a square ball into the path of Kelly who drove a low shot through a crowded box and into the bottom corner.

Moors seemed to settle more after conceding, and Rob Ramshaw almost issued an immediate response when he volleyed just wide after good work from Matty Dolan.

Corey McKeown had a golden chance to equalise just before the half hour when he met Reece Staunton’s inviting cross from the left with a glancing header which grazed the post on its way wide.

Tyler Denton thought he had added a second for the hosts just before the break when he unleased a swerving volley across goal from 22 yards but Moors keeper Rohan Luthra went full length to paw it away.

Ben Beals was needed to produce a wonderful last-ditch challenge to deny Scunthorpe at the start of the second half, before Ben Pollock also proved his worth with a couple of important blocks.

Junior Mondal almost levelled for Moors on the hour when he darted inside from the right but his low drive was fingertipped round the post by Ross Fitzsimons.

Mitch Hancox made an impact from the bench and his deep cross from the right fed fellow substitute Will Harris at the far post, but the front man glanced a header wide.

Lee’s men continued to press for an equalising goal, but that left them vulnerable at the other end as Roberts almost made it 2-0 with a low drive which clipped the outside of the post.

Scunthorpe did make sure of the points on 89 minutes though. Ubaezuonu brilliantly chopped inside from the left and then had the presence of mind and composure to curl a wonderful low finish across Luthra and in at the far post.

Full Time: Scunthorpe United 2 Moors 0

Scunthorpe United: Fitzsimons, Kelly (Starbuck 90), Kouogun, Evans, Denton, Clunan, Roberts, Rowley, Scales (Boyce 90), Fadera (Beck 69), Beestin (Ubaezuonu 80).
Subs not used: Campbell.

Booked: Clunan (81).

Moors: Luthra, Ledger, Pollock, Beals (Hancox 61), Staunton, Dolan (Simpson 90), Dyson, Mondal (Rutledge 81), Ramshaw, McKeown (Harris 69), Taylor.
Subs not used: Myers.

Booked: Beals (9), Staunton (31), Ramshaw (90).

Referee: Liam Corbett

Attendance: 4,487 (127 Moors)