STUART FRASER
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FOOTBALL
SCOTLAND U21 V NORTHERN IRELAND U21
Freelance Match Report
By Stuart Fraser
19th November 2008
Scotland Under-21 manager Billy Stark fielded a new look side hoping to impress in Hamilton last night but it was the opposition from across the sea who did just that with a 3 – 1 victory.
Northern Ireland’s youngsters thoroughly impressed the crowd of 2,149 at New Douglas Park but it was Scotland who got off to a dream start in the fourth minute. Paul Caddis made an excellent run on the right into the Northern Irish box and played it into the box for Jamie Murphy to slam it home past Trevor Carson from all of eight yards.
Scotland nearly made it two moments later in what was an almost carbon copy of the first goal. Murphy ran past Celtic’s Daniel Lafferty on the right hand wing and played a low cross, which was asking to be put into the Northern Irish goal, but Chris Maguire failed to make contact. Three minutes later, Murphy again played a low ball into the box, this time from the left, but there was no one in dark blue to convert.
Scotland paid the price for missing these chances in the 9th minute though when Rangers’ Andrew Little knocked on a Carson goal kick which Josh McQuoid ran onto after the Scottish defence failed to deal with it and the Northern Irish striker lifted it over Alan Martin’s head for the equaliser.
Martin seemed to sustain an injury as a result of a collision with the goalscorer and was replaced just after the quarter hour mark by Scott Gallacher.
Scotland’s defence were caught short again in the 27th minute when a dark blue attack broke down. The clearance was lifted high into the air and then bounced over the Scottish back line. Substitute keeper Gallacher came out of his box but that man McQuoid knocked the ball past him and put it into the net.
Stark was clearly unhappy with his side’s defending but to be fair to the Scots, they were proving lively up front in the search for a leveller. Murphy sent a low shot wide off the post from a Maguire corner and shortly after, Jamie Duff headed a Brian Easton cross past the post.
Scotland continued to penetrate the Northern Irish defence and were rewarded in the 43rd minute when Lafferty brought down Kevin McDonald in the box and German referee Babak Rafati pointed straight at the spot. Scotland failed to capitalise however as Carson saved Scott Arfield’s effort and the rebound was cleared by Christopher Casement.
Stark decided to make changes at half time and brought Paul Coutts and David Goodwillie on for Duff and McDonald. Caddis went back to the right hand side of defence whilst McQuire dropped wide onto the right wing allowing Goodwillie to play up front.
There was barely time though for the changes to have any chance of working when Northern Ireland pulled further ahead in the 49th minute. James Lawrie played a cross beyond the far post which Shane Ferguson headed back across goal and Little was there to slot home from close range.
Scotland failed to make any sort of impact on the Northern Ireland goal for a long period after this and there was another Scottish change in the 68th minute when Rory Loy replaced Scott Arfield. Loy has been in impressive scoring form for the Rangers Reserves and Stark was obviously hoping that the 20 year-old could do the same sort of thing on his international debut.
Loy was obviously keen for a debut goal and within a few minutes he had his first effort on goal which was deflected wide. His appearance however seemed to revive the Scottish attack and Murphy’s movement was also a constant threat. Chances came and went though and the killer instinct was obviously lacking.
The Northern Irish backline were also not proving easy to crack and an excellent double save from Trevor Carson just before the final whistle ended a disappointing evening for the Scottish youngsters.
SCOTLAND: Martin (Gallacher 16), Gray (Mitchell 78), Easton, Duff (Coutts 45), Pearce, Arfield (Loy 68), Caddis, Maguire (Millar 65), Murphy, McDonald (Goodwillie 45), Stevenson (Lennon 79).
NORTHERN IRELAND: Carson, Chapman (McMenamin 45), Lafferty (Flynn 45), Casement, Cathcart, Evans (Magee 86), Shroot (Lawrie 45), Weir, Little, McQuoid (McQuilken 67), Ferguson (Collligan 80).
Attendance: 2,149