SPIRITED Scunthorpe United forced Premier League Newcastle United all the way before falling to an extra-time defeat in the second round of the Carling Cup.

After a competitive opening, the home side grasped the initiative on 15 minutes, Chris Dagnall striking from close range to put the League One outfit in front as the Magpies conceded their first goal of the season.

Yet despite huffing and puffing to little effect, the visitors levelled with 10 minutes to go, Ryan Taylor, fresh from netting a free-kick against Sunderland on Saturday, dispatching a 25-yard set-piece into the top corner.

They completed their comeback deep into extra-time, Sammy Ameobi crashing a drive past the despairing dive of Josh Lillis.

There was a first start in Iron colours for Manchester United loanee Oliver Norwood, thrown in at the deep end to replace the injured Michael O'Connor, despite only joining the club officially 24 hours earlier.

Niall Canavan, after impressing in the second half of the 2-2 draw at Charlton Athletic, filled in for Paul Reid, who had been ruled out with a groin complaint.

For the visitors, another midfielder was making his debut, Sylvain Marveaux, with Joey Barton a noticeable absentee as he mulled over a switch to Queens Park Rangers as well as carrying a foot injury.

There were spaces in the starting XI for Peter Lovenkrands, Demba Ba, Leon Best, Dan Gosling and Mike Williamson, all brought in following the Magpies' 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light.

It was a starting line-up which highlighted the respect manager Alan Pardew has for the Carling Cup, despite fellow top tier sides putting out reserve squads in their second round ties.

If anything, Glanford Park brought fresh reminders to the travelling Toon of a previous visit to North Lincolnshire, in which, famously, Scunthorpe took them to task before beating the Geordies 2-1 two years ago.

And all the signs were evident for another shock result, particularly when Dagnall gave the hosts an early lead.

The striker, reacting quickest to Michael Nelson's nod down, toe-poked a shot past the advancing Tim Krul for a welcome 15th minute advantage.

It was a feat - scoring first in a game - the Iron had managed only once before this season, also in the Carling Cup, at Accrington Stanley.

That moment stung the sluggish visitors, Ryan Taylor curling a 23rd minute effort wide of the post before Best's header forced Lillis into his first save of note moments later.

But it was Scunthorpe who came closest to adding to their tally midway through the first half, Jimmy Ryan, following a measured cutback from Andy Barcham, driving straight at Krul when unmarked on the penalty spot.

It was a rare moment of action in an otherwise lifeless first period, a fact the Iron, when leading 1-0, would not have minded one bit at half-time.

Clearly cajolled during the interval, Newcastle started in much brighter fashion upon the restart, Lovenkrands shooting straight at Lillis, twice, either side of Best putting the ball in the back of the net from an offside position.

It was a fleeting period of dominance as Scunthorpe kept the Magpies at bay with relative ease.

And they should have claimed the second goal of the game when Barcham snuck in behind Danny Simpson following a bizarre attempt to clear.

But the winger, in the 68th minute, could only curl an effort, from the left, straight at an exposed Krul.

Dagnall then went close for an increasingly confident Iron, his deflected header somehow pushed clear by the Dutch keeper from close range.

But, just as time appeared to be running out, Newcastle levelled matters, Taylor curling a perfectly executed free-kick into the roof of the net to send the game into extra-time, a result neither side wanted, particularly the Iron, who are back in action at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Both weary after an energy-sapping 90 minutes, formations appeared obselete.

That resulted in substitute Mark Duffy, following Krul's woeful attempt at playing sweeper, forcing fellow sub Steven Taylor to head off the line with the Dutch international stranded outside his area.

Ryan's speculative 35-yard drive was pushed clear by the Newcastle custodian in the only other action of an uneventful extra 15 minutes.

But the second installment of extra-time promised better, Nelson nodding a free-kick in from the left inches past the far post.

Scunthorpe would pay for the missed opportunity in 113th minute, when Ameobi conjured up a moment of magic.

After slaloming through a couple of challenges down the left, the young forward finished with aplomb, lashing an unstoppable drive into the net from the edge of the box.

It would prove decisive in the end as Scunthorpe exited the cup, albeit in credible circumstances.

The extra time on the pitch though will have done little for their preparations ahead of Saturday's trip to Hillsborough.

TEAMS

SCUNTHORPE UNITED: Lillis, Wright, Nelson, Canavan, Nolan, Barcham, Togwell (c), Norwood, Ryan, Dagnall (Duffy 88), Grant (Thompson 77). Subs; Slocombe, Collins, Wint, Palmer, Thewlis.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Krul, Simpson, Coloccini (c), Williamson (S Taylor 45), R Taylor, Marveaux, Cabaye, Gosling (Vuckic 70), Lovenkrands, Ba (Ameobi 65), Best. Subs; Soderberg, Abeid, Smith, Ferguson.

ATT: 4,408 (933 away).