Scotland U16s fail to build on flying start in Dumfries

Published on 27/10/2012 00:59

Scotland under-16 side went down 2-1 to Northern Ireland in their second Sky Sports Victory Shield match of this season, as the Irish picked up their first win in Scotland at this level since 1975 at Queen of the South’s Palmerston Park.

Scotland opened the scoring in six minutes when Calvin Miller crossed from the right and Kilmarnock’s Greg Kiltie send home a header from six yards out. The Irish levelled on 24 minutes when Ben Kennedy sent over a looping cross from the right which was headed home by Scott Whiteside via the bar.

Two minutes from half-time Jonathan Smith prodded a pass into the home box and Michael Kelly tried to clear, but only hit the ball off Stephen Fallon 
and he skipped over goalkeeper Robbie McCrorie to tap home.

Scotland had the better of the second half with Miller curling a 20-yard effort just over and Ciaran Lafferty missing from six yards out after a surging run by Jack Breslin.

Defender Breslin came close again on 61 minutes with a 20-yard drive that was deflected before being saved by Brett Long in the Northern Irish goal.

It was not to be Scotland’s night as Sam Wardrop flashed a header just wide with ten minutes to go after a curling Michael Kelly free-kick.