Scunthorpe stretched their unbeaten run to four games with a hard-earned victory against lowly Colchester.

Scunthorpe were indebted to keeper Sam Slocombe for two fine saves from Gavin Massey and Clinton Morrison.

The only goal of the game came from Leon Clarke's penalty after he had been brought down in the box by Matt Heath.

It was Clarke's fourth goal in successive games since joining them on loan from Charlton and left Colchester without a win in eight games.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Scunthorpe United manager Alan Knill told BBC Radio Humberside:

"I'm obviously delighted and pleased for the players. I've got to say it wasn't a classic game but to be honest we didn't expect it to be a classic game, but we did enough to win.

"It doesn't matter who you play or where they are in the league, it's always a tough game. It's who gets the breaks and we got the break with the penalty and thankfully Leon struck it really well.

"It was just a scrappy game. The ball mostly flew about in the middle of the pitch and then second half it opened up a little bit."

Colchester United midfielder Kem Izzet told BBC Essex:

"This is a bit of a tough one to take. The performance we've put in away from home has been more than good enough for a point, maybe all three.

"You get a decision (for the Scunthorpe penalty) like that given against you and it's a bitter pill to swallow.

"When you are at the bottom, like we are at the moment, decisions seem to be going against you more often than not.

"You've just got to work hard on the pitch, off the pitch and keep trying your hardest to grind out a result and we'll keep doing that."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (5)

Scunthorpe United

  • 01 Slocombe
  • 02 Ribeiro
  • 05 Mirfin
  • 15 Canavan
  • 21 Newey
  • 04 Walker
  • 07 Ryan (Barcham - 87' )
  • 16 Duffy
  • 24 Prutton
  • 09 Clarke
  • 22 Hawley Booked (Jennings - 87' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Severn
  • 14 Gibbons
  • 23 Keegan
  • 25 Sedgwick
  • 10 Grella
  • 11 Barcham
  • 12 Jennings

Colchester United

  • 01 Cousins
  • 03 Rose Booked
  • 06 Heath
  • 18 Eastman
  • 20 Wilson
  • 07 Duguid (Wright - 79' )
  • 10 Izzet (Henderson - 74' )
  • 15 Bean
  • 22 Wordsworth Booked
  • 09 Morrison
  • 21 Massey Booked (Sears - 79' )

Substitutes

  • 35 Pentney
  • 25 White
  • 14 Bond
  • 24 Coker
  • 30 Wright
  • 11 Sears
  • 16 Henderson
Ref: Sarginson
Att: 3,133

Match Stats

Shots

13 8

On target

11 4

Corners

7 7

Fouls

12 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:45 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +5:08

Leon Clarke takes a shot. Blocked by Brian Wilson.

90:00 +3:06

Corner taken left-footed by Michael Rose from the right by-line to the near post, Josh Walker makes a clearance.

90:00 +2:50

Michael Rose sends in a cross, clearance made by Christian Ribeiro.

90:00 +1:17

Josh Walker concedes a free kick for a foul on Anthony Wordsworth. Mark Cousins restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:57

Centre by Andy Barcham, Matt Heath makes a clearance.

90:00 +0:11

Centre by Anthony Wordsworth, Sam Slocombe makes a comfortable save.

87:35

The ball is sent over by Drey Wright.

85:52 Substitution

Substitution Connor Jennings comes on in place of Karl Hawley.

85:52 Substitution

Substitution Andy Barcham joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jimmy Ryan.

85:52 Booking

Booking The referee books Karl Hawley for time wasting.

85:43

The referee blows for offside against Karl Hawley. Mark Cousins restarts play with the free kick.

84:46

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by David Prutton from the left by-line, save by Mark Cousins.

84:26

Mark Duffy sends in a cross, blocked by Matt Heath.

83:52

David Prutton takes the outswinging corner, Matt Heath makes a clearance.

83:37

A cross is delivered by Jimmy Ryan, clearance by Tom Eastman.

81:22

Inswinging corner taken by Freddie Sears from the left by-line.

80:45

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Anthony Wordsworth, Niall Canavan makes a clearance.

80:34

Centre by Brian Wilson, blocked by Tom Newey.

78:24 Substitution

Substitution Drey Wright comes on in place of Karl Duguid.

78:24 Substitution

Substitution (Colchester) makes a substitution, with Freddie Sears coming on for Gavin Massey.

77:20

Shot on goal by Christian Ribeiro from just inside the area goes over the target.

75:43 Goal scored

Goal - Leon Clarke - Scunthorpe 1 - 0 Colchester Penalty taken right-footed by Leon Clarke and scored. Scunthorpe 1-0 Colchester.

74:50

Matt Heath challenges Leon Clarke unfairly and gives away a Penalty.

73:39 Substitution

Substitution (Colchester) makes a substitution, with Ian Henderson coming on for Kem Izzet.

73:08

Shot from 12 yards from Mark Duffy. Mark Cousins makes a save.

72:41

Shot by Mark Duffy. Save made by Mark Cousins.

71:05

Unfair challenge on Tom Eastman by Leon Clarke results in a free kick. Mark Cousins takes the direct free kick.

70:47

Centre by Tom Newey.

68:41 Booking

Booking Anthony Wordsworth is given a yellow card.

68:30

Anthony Wordsworth gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Newey. Sam Slocombe restarts play with the free kick.

66:20

Brian Wilson produces a cross.

65:40

Unfair challenge on Clinton Morrison by Tom Newey results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Brian Wilson.

64:39

Leon Clarke delivers the ball, blocked by Tom Eastman.

64:14

David Mirfin fouled by Marcus Bean, the ref awards a free kick. Sam Slocombe takes the free kick.

63:47

Inswinging corner taken by Anthony Wordsworth from the right by-line.

63:25

Marcus Bean has an effort at goal from 30 yards. Save by Sam Slocombe.

62:35

Centre by Karl Hawley.

61:26 Booking

Booking Gavin Massey receives a yellow card.

59:26

Effort from 20 yards by Mark Duffy. Clearance made by Karl Duguid. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by David Prutton played to the near post, clearance by Karl Duguid.

58:47

A cross is delivered by Clinton Morrison, clearance made by Christian Ribeiro.

58:14

Corner from right by-line taken by David Prutton.

57:58

The ball is sent over by Jimmy Ryan, Tom Eastman manages to make a clearance.

57:05

The ball is crossed by Leon Clarke.

55:09

David Prutton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marcus Bean. Karl Duguid crosses the ball, Clinton Morrison takes a shot. Save made by Sam Slocombe.

54:27

The official flags Gavin Massey offside. Sam Slocombe takes the indirect free kick.

52:55

The ball is swung over by Karl Hawley, Tom Eastman manages to make a clearance.

50:38

Leon Clarke concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Rose. A cross is delivered by Michael Rose, Karl Duguid has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

49:12

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Leon Clarke by Marcus Bean. Josh Walker takes the free kick.

48:02

Corner taken by David Prutton from the left by-line, Header from deep inside the area by David Mirfin goes over the bar.

45:39

Unfair challenge on Karl Hawley by Matt Heath results in a free kick. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Josh Walker, Gavin Massey gets a block in.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +1:06 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

44:32

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jimmy Ryan on Kem Izzet. Free kick taken by Mark Cousins.

41:49

A cross is delivered by Gavin Massey.

41:09

Mishit right-footed shot by Tom Newey. Save made by Mark Cousins.

40:14

Matt Heath delivers the ball, Niall Canavan makes a clearance.

39:21

Brian Wilson delivers the ball. Clinton Morrison is adjudged to have handled the ball. Sam Slocombe takes the free kick.

38:11

Leon Clarke gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matt Heath. Direct free kick taken by Mark Cousins.

37:42

Karl Duguid challenges Christian Ribeiro unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sam Slocombe restarts play with the free kick.

37:18

The ball is delivered by Christian Ribeiro, clearance by Matt Heath.

36:28

Christian Ribeiro crosses the ball.

35:34

Unfair challenge on Jimmy Ryan by Brian Wilson results in a free kick. Sam Slocombe takes the free kick.

33:49

Mark Duffy crosses the ball, Shot from 12 yards by Jimmy Ryan. Clearance by Brian Wilson. Corner taken left-footed by David Prutton, Matt Heath makes a clearance.

32:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kem Izzet by Jimmy Ryan. Matt Heath restarts play with the free kick.

31:36

Gavin Massey is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Sam Slocombe.

29:37 Booking

Booking Michael Rose booked for unsporting behaviour.

29:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Christian Ribeiro by Michael Rose. Free kick taken by Sam Slocombe.

28:41

Karl Hawley has an effort at goal from 12 yards. Comfortable save by Mark Cousins.

25:34

Kem Izzet concedes a free kick for a foul on Niall Canavan. Niall Canavan restarts play with the free kick.

25:15

Anthony Wordsworth takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Tom Newey.

24:51

The ball is delivered by Gavin Massey, Clinton Morrison takes a shot. Save made by Sam Slocombe.

24:24

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kem Izzet by David Prutton. Michael Rose takes the direct free kick.

22:24

Anthony Wordsworth is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Tom Newey sends in a cross, Niall Canavan takes a shot. Mark Cousins makes a save.

22:24

The referee gives a free kick against Anthony Wordsworth for handball. Direct free kick taken by Tom Newey.

20:42

Foul by David Prutton on Anthony Wordsworth, free kick awarded. The ball is sent over by Michael Rose, Headed effort from inside the area by Matt Heath misses to the left of the goal.

20:15

The assistant referee signals for offside against Clinton Morrison. Sam Slocombe takes the indirect free kick.

19:55

Anthony Wordsworth sends in a cross.

19:03

Anthony Wordsworth takes the inswinging corner, clearance by David Prutton.

17:42

The ball is crossed by Christian Ribeiro.

16:45

Shot by Gavin Massey. Save by Sam Slocombe.

16:04

David Prutton produces a cross.

14:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tom Newey on Gavin Massey. Michael Rose takes the free kick.

13:49

Shot from just outside the penalty box by Anthony Wordsworth misses to the left of the target.

13:01

Christian Ribeiro fouled by Clinton Morrison, the ref awards a free kick. Sam Slocombe takes the direct free kick.

12:33

Shot from 18 yards by Mark Duffy. Save by Mark Cousins.

11:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by Clinton Morrison on Christian Ribeiro. Free kick taken by David Mirfin.

11:10

Unfair challenge on Matt Heath by Karl Hawley results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark Cousins.

10:25

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Sam Slocombe.

8:17

Gavin Massey is ruled offside. Sam Slocombe restarts play with the free kick.

5:09

Corner taken by David Prutton from the right by-line.

4:46

Shot by Jimmy Ryan. Save by Mark Cousins.

4:05

Michael Rose has an effort at goal from long distance that goes wide left of the upright.

3:28

The ball is sent over by Brian Wilson, clearance made by David Mirfin.

2:55

Leon Clarke is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Mark Cousins.

2:23

Karl Duguid concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Duffy. David Mirfin restarts play with the free kick.

2:03

Corner taken right-footed by Karl Duguid to the near post, clearance made by Niall Canavan.

1:40

Kem Izzet sends in a cross.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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