Moors fell to pre-season defeat at the hands of a clinical Scunthorpe United side in their latest friendly outing at The Brewery Field.
Graeme Lee was still without the services of Rob Ramshaw, Dan Rowe and Glen Taylor who were away on holiday, while two trialists were given the chance to shine.
The Iron kicked off with intensity, coming close on the fourth minute through a header from Danny Whitehall.
The visitors found the lead just two minutes later, as Callum Roberts got on the end of a smart pass from Kian Scales. The number 10 took a touch, before drilling an effort home past James to fire his side into the lead.
Moors got into a good position at the other end on the 26th minute. Cam Salkeld profited from a mistake at the back and drove down toward the by-line. The summer signing cut the ball back to the oncoming Junior Mondal, whose shot was deflected up and into the arms of Maison Campbell.
After good work down the right-hand side from Moors, Alfie Doherty saw a close-range effort go wide 10 minutes from half time.
Both sides saw half chances before the break, first through Moors’ Trialist A, who hit a weak shot goalwards and into Campbell’s hands, followed up by Alfie Beestin’s effort at the right post, which flew wide of the mark.
Andy Butler’s side came out for the second 45 with real intent and Roberts won a penalty just four minutes in. The number 10 made no mistake as he converted from the spot, despite the best efforts of James, who dived the right way.
Corey McKeown had a real chance to get Moors back into the game just before the hour mark, as he got on the end of an inviting cross from Salkeld. McKeown, however, just couldn’t get there in time, and prodded the ball wide of the upright.
McKeown tried his luck again six minutes later, but his low driven effort was, this time, saved by Campbell.
Roberts went on to get both his and Scunthorpe’s third of the afternoon in the 65th minute, as Declan Howe took advantage of some hesitant defending, and unselfishly squared the ball to the number 10, who slotted home with ease to complete his hat-trick.
It didn’t take long for the visitors to find their fourth. Howe turned from provider to goal scorer with just 16 minutes left, as he controlled a flicked header from Mark Beck and fired home.
James prevented a fifth for Scunthorpe as he did well to stop Howe’s low driven effort, before Moors went up the other end to grab a consolation goal less than a minute later.
New man, Gary Madine, forced the ball home after his first effort was saved by Campbell to give Graeme Lee’s side a moment of consolation.
Full Time: Moors 1 Scunthorpe United 4
Moors: James; Dyson, Ledger (Luck 75), Pollock, Trialist A (Salkeld 18), Dolan, Trialist B (Hancox 60), McKeown (Madine 73), Doherty (Brandon 90), Heaney, Mondal.
Subs not used: Barron, Dodds.
Scunthorpe United: Campbell, Belehouan, Boyce (Beck 46), Evans, Starbuck (Eze 74), Ewing (Ubaezuonu 69), Scales (Chadwick 61), Denton, Beeston (Brogan 74), Roberts (Dawson 74), Whitehall (Howe 46).
Subs not used: Watson.
Referee: James Bancroft
Attendance: 551
