The U's wait for their first home win of the season goes on as a strong defensive display by Scunthorpe saw the visitors take all three points from Layer Road.

Geraint Williams men prompted and probed all afternoon, but were never able to open up a well organised visiting back line.

As the points headed north to Lincolnshire, the U's fans were left to reflect on the turning point of the first half, as the home team were denied what appeared to be a clear cut penalty.

The visitors got their noses in front and, as the U's had done to so many teams last season, repelled all that was thrown at them to ensure a useful three points in their quest to make an impression at this level.

The frustration goes on for the U's, with just the victory at Preston in the wins column to date this season.

The U's made just the one change to their starting eleven for the visit of the Iron, with Dean Gerken coming in for Aidan Davison, who was unable to shake off a groin injury.

Teddy Sheringham also missed out, with his hamstring injury so Platt and Lisbie continuing their partnership up front.

The U's started brightly, but it was Scunthorpe that got the first sight of goal, with a deep cross from Hurst finding Taylor surging in at the far post but he could only hit it at Gerken from a narrow angle.

Against a well organised Scunthorpe side, the U's first glimpse of the opposition target did not arrive until 12 minutes in, as a dangerous ball across the six yard box eluded Lisbie's run into the area.

Lisbie did much better on the quarter hour mark as he latched onto a Platt flick on to control and lay off to Yeates. The winger's low shot took a deflection on its path to goal, forcing a good save out of Murphy, who held on under pressure from Izzet.

The U's were beginning to crank up the pressure and Yeates and Duguid combined cleverly to lay the ball off to Jackson, who drove the ball at goal, his shot deflected wide.

Gerken's first real action of the half came on 20 minutes as he first scooped a Cork cross away from danger, before tipping Hurst's driven follow up over the bar.

At the other end, Platt was proving to be a real nuisance and his header from a corner was deflected over for another set piece.

From that Jackson's effort, the U's had two shots blocked as the visitors worked hard to clear their lines.

The game exploded into life on 27 minutes as the U's were denied what appeared to be a clear cut penalty kick.

The crowd were already enraged that Lisbie had received a kick to the head as he nodded a ball on at shoulder height, but they were apoplectic when the ref waved away a penalty appeal.

Yeates had skipped away with the ball in the aftermath of the Lisbie foul, and appeared to be blocked and tripped by Youga as he weaved his way into the box.

Yet the referee showed no interest, nor did the linesman who saw the incident from no more than 20 yards away.

Whilst Yeates was proving to be the dangerman for the U's, Hurst was providing as many problems down the other flank. His crosses and shots were giving the home team plenty to think about.

Virgo went into the book just after the half hour for a foul on Forte, but the U's fans were again frustrated that the earlier foul on Lisbie hadn't been given the same treatment.

A cleverly crafted U's move saw McLeod and Izzet combine to send in Lisbie but he dallied on his shot to see his eventual effort deflected away to safety.

From the corner, Platt collected the ball as it arrived in the box, but Jackson was leaning back as he drove the shot well over the bar.

The visitors were defending valiantly as the U's tried to contrive an opening, Butler on more than one occasion stepping out from the back line to clear shots at distance.

And his defensive skills proved crucial as the visitors took the lead two minutes before the break.

Forte knocked the ball down and Hayes produced a great bit of skill to lift the ball over Virgo and drill a low shot past Gerken and give the Iron a goal advantage.

The U's had a chance to draw level just before the break, though, as Platt knocked down a ball for Lisbie to again get in on goal, but he was unable to beat the onrushing Murphy from a tight angle.

Gerken was the next to pull off a save at the start of the second half as Forte spun Baldwin and fired in a low shot.

At the other end, McLeod stepped up a dangerous cross for Lisbie to attack and it took a last ditch clearing header from Byrne to get rid of the ball.

The U's needed a lift, both on and off the pitch as the difficulties in unlocking the Iron back line was reflected in probably the quietest home atmosphere of the year.

It was not to say that the team weren't trying - they were continually coming up against a resilient visiting defence that were determined to hold onto their lead.

One incident ten minutes into the second half summed that up as both Platt and Lisbie were left frustrated as the ball wouldn't quite drop cleanly for them in situations that promised plenty.

Forte and Hayes were combining well at the other end and the Scunthorpe goalscorer could consider himself unlucky not to get a better connection at the near post when his strike partner crossed from the byline.

The U's made their first chance with 58 minutes on the clock, as Jamie Guy came on to a warm reception in place of McLeod. .

The change almost brought instant dividends. Guy combined well with Izzet and Duguid, with the U's captain sending over a deep cross that Lisbie failed to get a clean connection on with his header.

Jackson was the next to try and bring the U's back into it as Yeates robbed his man, laying it to Platt who in turn passed it to the awaiting midfielder. Unfortunately, his low shot was straight at Murphy.

Butler, so often a force in the visiting defence, proved to be a menace twenty minutes into the second half, as he headed narrowly over the bar as a corner was returned with interest by Hurst.

The visitors received their first cards of the game two minutes later as Goodwin saw yellow for hacking down Yeates.

Gerken was at his best with 24 minutes of the second half gone, pulling off a fine save with his foot as Sparrow burst into the box at full pelt and drove in a low shot.

The U's were still seeking a lift from somewhere and introduced Guttridge with twenty minutes to go as they looked for the spark to get them back in the game.

The substitute stepped over the ball not long after his introduction, with Jackson contriving space for a shot that was again well blocked by Butler.

The U's won a corner not long afterwards, the ball fizzing across the face of goal with no touch from either side and then the ball was returned into the area by Baldwin and Murphy nearly dropped the ball in his net as he collected under the bar.

The home team were having their best spell of pressure and Yeates then delivered another dangerous cross that Murphy did well to collect with Platt lingering.

With the U's pushing on, though, Scunthorpe were able to exploit the space in behind, with Forte testing Gerken with one curled shot.

The officials had frustrated the home fans all afternoon, but referee Woolmer gained applause eight minutes from the end as he booked Taylor for taking too long to get off the pitch when he was substituted.

The U's kept on probing and from another dangerous Duguid cross, both Platt and Lisbie leapt for it but couldn't time their jumps to meet the ball.

Yeates then tried his own bit of magic, curling in a long distance free kick around the wall and beyond the despairing dive of Murphy, only for it to go past the post as well.

Hurst went into the book for a foul on Duguid in the dying stages of the match, returning the 'favour' after the Colchester captain had done the same earlier in the half.

The free kick into the box was repelled - and summed up a hugely frustrating afternoon for the U's.

Att: 5,218