Scunthorpe United 1 : 1 Colchester United - Robins off the Mark as Iron boss

Posted Sunday, October 19, 2014 by PA

New manager Mark Robins now knows the size of the task he faces as Scunthorpe struggled to 1-1 draw at home to Colchester in his first match in charge.

The home side started brightly and were ahead in the 20th minute when veteran striker Rory Fallon found the back of the net with a near-post header from a Gary McSheffrey free-kick. It was his third goal in five games since joining the club.

Shortly afterwards, leading marksman Paddy Madden should have made it 2-0 but he lifted his shot over the crossbar after breaking into the box.

That proved a decisive miss as Colchester drew level in the 33rd minute when in-form striker Freddie Sears pounced wthh his seventh goal of the season.

Sears, who had earlier seen a close-range volley crash back into play off the underside of the bar, drilled home a right-foot shot after an excellent turn on the edge of the box.

Scunthorpe brought on new signing Isaiah Osbourne at the start of the second half to pep up their midfield. But they faded badly as an attacking force, struggling to muster much threat in front of goal.

It was Colchester who should have won it with two good late chances. In the 80th minute midfield man George Moncur blazed over from close range and in stoppage time substitute Rhys Healey fired in an angled shot which struck the foot of the far post.