Scunny Loft conversion is against Town’s plan

NEIL Cox hailed his Scunthorpe’s side’s win over Harrogate as one of their best of season as they returned from a three-week sabbatical to secure a fourth successive victory.

Ryan Loft made one goal and scored another as the Iron secured a fourth successive win in what was their first full game since January.

Loft fired the Iron ahead right at the end of the first half, after Josh March’s penalty had cancelled out Devarn Green’s opener, before substitute Lewis Spence sealed the win in the 90th minute.

“I’m really pleased to win after having three weeks off, even training has been difficult because of the weather,” said Cox.

“It was scrappy, but the main thing was the win. We looked leggy and there was rustiness about our play.

“For me, given the circumstances, that’s one of our best results of the season.

“Harrogate threw a lot of balls at us, but never really hurt us. They only had the penalty – Howard hasn’t had another save to make.”

The home side went in front in the fourth minute when Green made the most of being given time and space at the far post to fire home.

After a shaky start, Harrogate soon became the side in the ascendancy and, almost immediately after Loft saw a close-range finish ruled out for offside in the 26th minute, the visitors levelled from the spot – onloan March firing in after having his heels clipped by George Taft in the box.

Harrogate continued to look the likeliest to add to the scoring until a lofted pass from Alfie Beestin in first-half stoppage time caught the visiting defence napping and Loft controlled well and finished.

Both sides struggled to create much in a scrappy second half, with Spence producing a moment of quality finding the top corner from 25 yards.

“Basic defensive mistakes in the first half cost us,” said Harrogate boss Simon Weaver.

“There was still plenty of time to get back in the game in the second half, but we haven’t created nearly enough.

“The game was of poor quality, but Scunthorpe deservedly won because they didn’t make the mistakes that we did.

“There’s no excuses, we didn’t carry out the plan well enough or show enough quality.”