Greens need to get back on course
Last season, the Greens needed victory at home to next opponents Dunstablians to part-seal home advantage in a play-off against Hereford.
They did that with a resounding 71-17 triumph at Heslam Park, achieving their target, before losing in the end of season shootout.
Fast forward to this campaign's closing stages and the North Lincolnshire side could well do with another thumping win to keep their aspirations on track.
With their grip on the title slipping slightly, following a 32-32 draw with Syston and a 21-3 defeat at Derby, the cushion they had over the chasing pack has suddenly disappeared in the space of a couple of weeks.
But club chairman Lew Clayton believes it will only take one resounding display to get the Greens back on track in their push for Midlands One East glory.
"We head the table by one point at the moment – it's quite simple, we have to win all our remaining games," said Clayton.
"Our first defeat of the season was when we went down to Dunstablians so the lads will think we owe them one.
"It's how they take defeat (at Derby) and how they bounce back from defeat.
"It's more of a mental thing. There has been a dip in form and a dip in confidence.
"But this can be rectified with one sound victory and people regain their confidence.
"It doesn't matter how good you are physically, if your head isn't in sync you won't show top form – they have to shake themselves down."
A big victory on home soil last season certainly benefited Scunthorpe's cause, with Clayton hoping for more of the same.
"That's the sort of result that carried us on to the next game at Ampthill and we inflicted their only defeat on them which got us home advantage for the Hereford play-off," added the club supremo.
"A victory like that means you can ride that wave.
"We have lost the cushion that we had three or four weeks ago. But our destiny is still in our hands. It's up to us to keep that advantage over the remaining games.
"It's strange how things move. The season is a long time and pre-Christmas and post-Christmas are different.
"The form wains in the dark days of January and February.
"But, by and large, we are gradually working back to getting the confidence back in the team."
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the original Scunthorpe Colts, with a celebratory dinner to be held at Heslam Park on April 23.
Prior to that, Clayton is trying to contact any members of that side.
If you are one of them, you can call Clayton on (01724) 349979.
Lew Clayton.
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