IVAN POTS A CRACKER
IVAN TONEY produced a trick shot his snooker-playing dad would have been proud of to get Scunthorpe’s promotion challenge back on track.
The striker, on loan from Newcastle, scored two well-taken goals as faltering Scunny ended a miserable run by beating their League One play-off rivals in a thriller.
But it was the second that really wowed the fans at Glanford Park – a brilliantly improvised bicycle kick into the far corner when keeper Colin Doyle seemed to have closed him out.
It was a superb effort in front of his watching dad, also called Ivan, who used to face Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby as he tried to make a living as a pro snooker player. Toney said: “He’s played with all the top guys, but he didn’t have the support back then that I have now.
“So he played with O’Sullivan and Selby, people like them.
“He said he used to beat them – but I don’t know whether he did or didn’t. He keeps me on my toes and he’s behind me all the way.”
Toney has been used mainly as a sub since making his move from St James’ Park in January.
But he played from the start against Bradford as boss Graham Alexander tried to halt a poor run that has seen them fall from top spot and out of automatic promotion contention. The move paid off as Toney fired a thirdminute opener into the roof of the net after a Josh Morris corner fell to him at the far post.
But Bradford then scored twice in quick succession. They levelled when debutant Kevin Toner, on loan from Aston Villa, headed home Billy Clarke’s free-kick for his first senior goal.
Pressed
Stuart McCall’s side then went in front as Alex Jones latched on to a poor Conor Townsend clearance and rolled in a 20-yard shot via a deflection.
Toney’s moment of magic brought Scunny level three minutes after the break, but Bradford then missed a host of chances.
Home keeper Luke Daniels made superb reaction saves from Timothee Dieng and Charlie Wyke as the visitors pressed. But Matt Crooks gave the Iron only a second win in 12 matches when he headed in another Morris corner seven minutes from time.
Romain Vincelot almost extended Bradford’s seven-match unbeaten run, heading against the bar before Danny Devine’s follow-up shot was cleared by Murray Wallace while he was on the ground.
McCall said: “In the second half, we were well on top. It was just wave after wave.
“It was disappointing not to win the game, never mind a point. As disappointed as I am with the result, I’m certainly not with the performance.
“I’ve never looked at the top two. The play-offs have always been the aim. There’s a lot of work still to do.”