Tamworth scored three times in the opening 43 minutes on their way to a 4-1 victory over Scunthorpe United at The Lamb Ground, with Morgan Roberts, Kieren Donnelly and Tom McGlinchey putting the hosts in command before substitute Dan Creaney completed the scoring in stoppage time.
Andy Peaks handed Hull City loanee Ramell Carter his debut and goalkeeper Jonathan Macaulay his first league start. The Lambs needed only four minutes to take the lead when Gabriel Kelly released McGlinchey down the left. His cross found Donnelly, whose header caused problems for the Scunthorpe defence, allowing Roberts to drive the loose ball home from eight yards.
Scunthorpe threatened an immediate response when Jordan Richards fired an angled shot wide, but Tamworth doubled their advantage in the 14th minute. Teo Kurtaran delivered from the left and Donnelly met his cross with a glancing header beyond Maison Campbell to make it 2-0.
The hosts continued to create openings, with Kurtaran curling an ambitious effort narrowly over before Campbell denied Donnelly a second goal after the forward had broken into the penalty area. Scunthorpe had opportunities through Joe Starbuck and Richards, although neither seriously troubled Macaulay.
Tamworth added their third in the 43rd minute when McGlinchey collected possession on the edge of the penalty area, set himself and drove a low shot into the bottom corner. Donnelly almost made it four shortly afterwards, but Campbell and Tyler Denton combined to deny him. Scunthorpe then reduced the deficit in the third minute of first-half stoppage time when Alfie Beestin struck from distance to make it 3-1 at the interval.
Scunthorpe manager Andy Butler made three changes at half-time, introducing Luke Brennan, Declan Howe and Patrick Jones. The visitors appealed for a penalty when Jean Belehouan went down under a challenge from Hayden Carson, but referee Adam Merchant waved play on. Jones subsequently forced Macaulay into a low save, while James Norwood headed narrowly wide from the resulting corner.
Tamworth also had chances to extend their lead. Carter narrowly missed the target on his debut after meeting Carson’s cross, while Donnelly intercepted possession and attempted to chip Campbell, only to send his effort over the crossbar. Macaulay was then called upon to gather attempts from Beestin and Brennan as Scunthorpe continued searching for a way back into the match.
Peaks introduced Creaney and Ryan Howley in the 70th minute, with both players returning from injury and Creaney wearing a protective face mask. Scunthorpe came close to reducing the deficit in the 82nd minute when Jones struck the base of the post from the right side of the penalty area. Tamworth survived another dangerous delivery shortly afterwards when Tom Parkes sliced a clearance over his own crossbar.
The hosts finally made certain of victory in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Donnelly released McGlinchey with a pass through midfield, and the midfielder advanced into the area before squaring for Creaney to finish from close range. It was a fitting contribution from the returning substitute, while Donnelly completed an influential evening with a goal and a part in two others.
The victory ended Tamworth’s two-match league losing sequence and lifted Peaks’ side to 17th in the National League with 17 points from 14 games. Scunthorpe suffered a fourth successive league defeat and remained 22nd with 10 points from 14 matches.
