Scunthorpe United vs Truro City – Match Report

Enterprise National League

By Tom Howe, Glanford Park, Saturday

Scunthorpe United 4 – Truro City 0

Truro City slipped to the bottom of the National League table after being undone by a ruthless Scunthorpe United, who ran out 4-0 winners at Glandford Park.

Tyler Harvey forced an early save from Rory Watson after meeting a Connor Riley-Lowe cross, while Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain twice went close as City looked to capitalise on their early momentum. However, it was the hosts who struck first, with Joey Dawson pouncing on a defensive error to open the scoring.

Declan Howe doubled Scunthorpe’s lead early in the second half, prior to Alfie Beestin’s deflected effort and a late strike from substitute Danny Whitehall put the result beyond any doubt.

Aidan Stone produced several fine saves to prevent Andy Butler’s side from adding further goals to their tally with City’s attacking changes, including the return of Jake Taylor from injury, unable to turn the tide.

Riley-Lowe, who provided the assist for Luke Jephcott’s deciding goal in Tuesday’s 1-0 National League Cup win at home to Fulham under-21s, was one of five Tinners that night to keep their place in John Askey’s starting eleven.

Dan Rooney, Lirak Hasani, Ben Starkie and Shaun Donnellan each rejoined him from the off, while Taylor was deemed fit enough for a place on the bench, having missed four matches with a hamstring injury sustained in the 3-0 triumph over Boston United at The TCS on August 30.

📷Tyler Harvey of Truro City wins a header against Joe Starbuck of Scunthorpe United during the Enterprise National League match between Scunthorpe United and Truro City at The Attis Arena on 20 September 2025 in Scunthorpe, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)

Bright starts have become a hallmark of the Tinners this season, and they were quickest out of the blocks again in North Lincolnshire. Harvey forced an early save from Watson after meeting a cross from Riley-Lowe who, at the other end, needed to be alert to snuff out the danger before Oliver Ewing could capitalise.

Howe showed intent for the hosts, surging forward and firing just over the bar, with Oxlade-Chamberlain twice threatening for City, his first effort blocked and the second drifting wide.

The Iron responded with two quickfire chances of their own, Joe Starbuck’s header comfortably gathered by Stone, while Howe’s shot was deflected wide. The warning signs were there and City didn’t heed them as, soon after, Dawson pounced on a defensive error to put the hosts ahead.

Stone was called into action to gather a free-kick delivered by Callum Roberts before City were able to settle again. Ben Starkie earned a first corner of the afternoon and the resulting set piece was straight from the training ground. Harry Kite – one of two Tinners to be booked in the opening half, alongside Donnellan – delivered a low ball that sat up nicely for Riley-Lowe, who fired just over the bar.

Kite didn’t return for the second stanza, with Yassine En-Neyah coming on in his stead. Zac Bell followed soon after, replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain just seven minutes into the half. The changes didn’t have the desired effect however, as the Iron struck again with Howe firing past Stone to double the hosts’ advantage.

A positive City looked for a response, with Donnellan seeing the ball snatched away at a crucial moment, before Starkie picked out Harvey, whose header was safely gathered by Watson. The pressure continued, and another Riley-Lowe free-kick found Sam Sanders at the back post. His slip inadvertently allowed the ball to fall kindly for Harvey, but once again Watson was quick off his line to deny the marksman.

Dom Johnson-Fisher was introduced for Donnellan as City continued their search for a way back into the tie but their hopes were dashed when a cruel deflection saw Beestin add a third for the Iron. Stone was soon called into action again, producing a fine save to keep out a fierce strike from Roberts that looked destined for the bottom corner.

Askey responded with a double change, introducing Jephcott and Taylor in place of Harvey and Hasani. The substitutions could do little to change the outcome however, as the Iron soon added a fourth. Tyrell Sellars-Fleming rattled the crossbar and, although Stone did well to save Whitehall’s initial follow-up, the substitute reacted quickest to fire home, sending the Tinners and their 61 travelling supporters home empty-handed.

There’s another quick turnaround ahead of Tuesday evening’s visit to Brackley Town (7.45 pm), before the visit of Morecambe next Saturday (3.00 pm) kicks off a double-header at The TCS.

Scunthorpe: Watson, Scales, Starbuck, Rowley, Howe (Chadwick, 68), Ewing (Sellars-Fleming, 45), Beestin, Denton, Evans, Roberts (Ubaezuonu, 78), Dawson (Whitehall, 68) (Beck, 87). Subs Not Used: Gjoshe, Johnson

Truro: Stone, Dean, Riley-Lowe, Sanders, Harvey (Jephcott, 78), Rooney, Hasani (Taylor, 78), Starkie, Donnellan (Johnson-Fisher, 66), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Bell, 52), Kite (En-Neyah, 45). Subs Not Used: Lavercombe, Law

Referee: Neil Hair

Attendance: 4,295 (61 away)

📷Shaun Donnellan of Truro City during the Enterprise National League match between Scunthorpe United and Truro City at The Attis Arena on 20 September 2025 in Scunthorpe, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)

John Askey Post Match Reaction

by Gareth Davies

Truro City boss John Askey admitted his side ‘were never at the races’ after suffering a 4-0 reverse at Scunthorpe United.

The loss, coupled with victory for Morecambe over Sutton United, sees City fall to the foot of the National League standings.

They fell behind in the first half when Joey Dawson lashed home from the edge of the box. Half chances for Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain and Connor Riley-Lowe were City’s brightest moments during the opening 45 and they trailed at the turnaround.

Dec Howe scored Scunthorpe’s second seven minutes after the restart and despite Sam Sanders coming close to halving the arrears, Alfie Beestin’s deflected effort put the game out of Truro’s sight with 20 minutes left.

Salt was then rubbed into City wounds as time ticked down with substitute Danny Whitehall scoring a fourth for the Iron, who remain unbeaten so far this term.

“We were never at the races from start to finish,”Askey said at full-time. “We were never in the game and it was a disappointing performance all round.

“We must do better, to put it mildly, and coming to places like this, it is tough, if you don’t set your stall out early on. You must stop the opposition playing to earn your own right to play, then you have problems.

“We gave Scunthorpe chances, by trying to dribble the ball out of trouble, when it should be up the other end of the park. Things like that happened too many times and overall, we just weren’t good enough.”

City have little time to lick their wounds however as the side are back in action on Tuesday evening when they are back on the road again, travelling to Brackley Town.

When asked how quickly it will be to pick his beleaguered troops up from a fifth successive away reverse, the 60-year-old admitted that it won’t be an easy task.

“It will be difficult after that,” Askey revealed. “ Those sorts of performances leave everyone deflated and you start to ask questions.

“However, our mindset will be that Scunthorpe has gone and we go into the Brackley match giving everything we have got so we ttry to forget today.

“We will be back in for training on Monday, trying to learn from the mistakes we have made.

“Hopedfully we can recover well and prepare for Tuesday in the same fashion.”

📷Ben Starkie of Truro City challenges for an aerial ball with Joe Starbuck of Scunthorpe United during the Enterprise National League match between Scunthorpe United and Truro City at The Attis Arena on 20 September 2025 in Scunthorpe, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)