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Packed Harlaw Park sees Scotland come up short against Auld Enemy

Scotland Schools 0

England Schools 2

Windsor 13, Arbour 89
  • Tuesday, 04 February 2014
  • Harlaw Park, Inverurie
  • Under 18´s
  • Centenary Shield

On a chilly night at a busy Harlaw Park, former West Ham, Manchester City and England star Trevor Sinclair was in town to see his son, Isaac Sinclair, play for England in Inverurie as Scotland schoolboys under 18’s took on their English counterparts in the Centenary Shield International Home Nations Tournament. The Three Lions went back with a 2-0 win over Scotland.

The action started fast, in front of a crowd of over 1500, as in the third minute, England goalkeeper Sam Tickle produced a poor clearance which went straight into the path  of Scotland's Lyall Cameron who played a nice one two pass with captain and man of the match Jack Hodge, but his shot flashed left of the keepers goal.

Then in the 8th minute there was a shot across the face of the hosts goal by England's Owen Windsor after a great pass from Isaac Sinclair but nothing was to come of it.

Only two minutes later, in the 10th minute, a free kick after a foul on England’s Rob Melia was taken just right of the box by England's Ben Greenwood into the penalty spot, but the shot was scuffed and out by Rob Melia.

The first goal came after 13 minutes as a long ball forward by Sinclair forced a mistake by the Scottish backline and it came to England's man of the match, Owen Windsor and he took a shot from 18 yards. The shot left Lee Herbert rooted to the spot as it went in off the right post and into the inside of the left hand post side netting.

In the 22nd minute a skillful run from England’s Melia saw Scotland’s Ross Smith clear it out for a corner. The corner was also cleared by Smith. Two minutes later a big penalty claim for England as Sinclair’s tricky run sees him tumble under a strong challenge by Scotland’s Jamie Thompson but no penalty was given.

35 minutes in, a brilliant run from Scotland’s Josh Mulligan saw him run past three defenders and shoot from just inside the D. Unfortunately his drive rattled off of the corner of the bar and post and away to safety.

A second penalty claim for England came right on half time whistle came as once again Sinclair danced through the Scottish defence and looked to have been fouled. Again no penalty given by referee Graham Beaton.

  • Half Time:
  • Scotland Schools
  • 0-1
  • England Schools

Half time came and went, and with it came new tactics for Scotland. The Scots manager Craig Johnston changed from a classic and conventional 4-4-2 for more of a 4-1-2-1-2 with a diamond in the middle. This made Scotland more attacking and gave them a lot more of the ball.

Their first chance of the half came only three minutes into the half as Mulligan shot from the right hand side just outside the box but the shot went just over the bar.

Then in the 54th minute, a ball from England's Ethan Cartwright through to Ben Greenwood was well collected but his shot just clipped the crossbar after his shot from 12 yards out.

Only two minutes later a long diagonal ball from England’s Connor Taylor was headed out for a corner. The resulting corner was taken by Greenwood and forced Herbert to parry onto the bar, but the deflection came out to England’s Owen Windsor who drilled a shot which was cleared off the line as many England players celebrated thinking they had scored.

In the 63rd minute a free kick was given after Mulligan was taken down just outside the box. The free kick was taken by Hodge and his effort saw a right footed curling shot fly just past Tickles left hand post.

Later on, in the 70th minute, a ball from Scotland's Josh Doig to Finlay Baird was squared to Hodge but his slightly mishit shot and was eventually cleared.

We then saw a double substitution for England as both James Richardson and Declan Arbour came on for Ross Johnstone and Isaac Sinclair. There were also two substitutions for Scotland as Tiwi Daramola and Josh McConville came on for Owen Andrew and Finlay Baird.

In the 75th minute, a ball from Doig to Mulligan was controlled well by the Scotland number 7 but his shot was straight into the keepers midriff.

Then a substitution for either side came as Wilson Romanis came on for Lyall Cameron for  Scotland and Adam Crowther came on for Owen Windsor for England.

Only two minutes later in the 77th minute a shot from Greenwood saw Herbert pull of a spectacular save with his right foot and forced it past the right post. This was Scotland's moment of the match.

In the 88th minute a tantalisingly close effort as Mulligan was charging past the English midfield and heading for goal but is tactically taken down by Josh Storey. The resulting free kick was floated into the box by Hodge into the six yard box but goalkeeper Sam Tickle grasped the ball confidently.

The high press from Scotland eventually came back to haunt them as England's Moment of the Match came. A counter attack by England saw substitute Arbour score from six yards into the bottom right corner after a delightful through ball from Greenwood making it 2-0 to the away side.

Overall neither side deserved to lose and Scotland, although coming short in the end, will have left with their heads held high as they gave England a really good run for their money. Scotland next face Republic Of Ireland on Thursday night at Ayr United.

  • Full Time:
  • Scotland Schools
  • 0-2
  • England Schools

Lineups

Scotland Schools
England Schools
1. Lee Herbert
2. Ben Cameron
3. Ross Smith
4. Christopher Stafford
5. Jamie Thompson
6. Finlay Baird
7. Josh Mulligan
8. Jack Hodge (c)
9. Owen Andrew
10. Lyall Cameron
11. Josh Doig
12. Jacques Hegarty
13. Archie Meekison
14. Dylan Coll
15. Tiwi Daramola
16. Josh McConville
17. Finlay Robertson
18. Wilson Romanis
1. Sam Tickle
2. Rob Melia
4. Ethan Cartwright
5. Levi Tarbottom
6. Connor Taylor
7. James Richardson
8. Ross Johnstone
9. Declan Arbour
10. Isaac Sinclair
11. Owen Windsor
12. Adam Crowther
14. Josh Storey
15. James Dickson
17. Jack Martin
19. Dean Rule
20. Ben Greenwood
Star Player
Scotland Schools
England Schools
Jack Hodge for constant effort and brilliant passing when on the ball as well as leading his side superbly
Owen Windsor for great goal and constant attacking threat, with great pace and control
Magic Moment
Scotland Schools
England Schools
In the 77th minute a shot from Greenwood sees Scottish Goalkeeper Herbert pull of a spectacular save with his right foot and forced it past the right post.
A counter attack by England saw substitute Arbour score from six yards into the bottom right corner after a delightful through ball from Greenwood making it 2-0 to the away side, killing the game.
  • Match report and photos copyright Youth Football Scotland.
Published in National Teams
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