Scotland U-21s 1 - 3 N Ireland U-21s: McQuoid double puts new-look Scots to the sword

Published on Tuesday 18 November 2008 22:50

JOSH McQuoid notched a well-taken first-half double on his Northern Ireland Under-21 debut to set up a 3-1 friendly triumph against a new-look Scotland side.

Jamie Murphy gave the hosts a third-minute lead at New Douglas Park, but Bournemouth striker McQuoid raced on to two long balls before finishing with aplomb to make it 2-1 to the visitors. Scotland midfielder Scott Arfield had a 43rd-minute penalty saved by Trevor Carson and Andrew Little killed off the contest for Northern Ireland three minutes after the break.

Paul Caddis set up the third-minute opener when he beat a man on the right and cut the ball back for Murphy to blast home from eight yards. Dangerous crosses from either flank by Murphy just evaded a dark blue shirt before the visitors levelled in the ninth minute.

Rangers striker Little headed on a kick from his goalkeeper and McQuoid out-ran David Gray before lifting the ball over goalkeeper Alan Martin from just inside the box. Martin suffered an injury while trying to close the goalscorer down and was replaced by Scott Gallacher in the 16th minute.

The lively McQuoid put the Irish ahead with a brilliantly taken goal in the 26th minute. He left Jamie Duff in his wake as he raced on to Adam Chapman's long ball and knocked the ball over Gallacher before firing into the corner, despite the presence of two Scotland defenders.

Scotland were handed a 43rd-minute penalty when German referee Babak Rafati ruled Daniel Lafferty had brought down Kevin McDonald. McDonald appeared to collide with the Celtic player after running on to Maguire's lay-off, but the award soon proved meaningless.

Arfield won the right to take the penalty after a discussion with Murphy, but his effort was too straight and Trevor Carson dived low to parry before Chris Casement cleared.

Scotland found themselves two behind four minutes after the restart when Little blasted home from close range after Ferguson had headed across goal.

McQuoid had one chance for his hat-trick before being replaced, but he sliced a left-footed shot over after brilliantly controlling Weir's clever pass on the edge of the area.

The visitors comfortably held on to their lead until Carson pulled off a spectacular double stop from Steven Lennon and David Goodwillie in the dying seconds.

Scotland Under-21s: Martin (Gallacher 16), Gray (Mitchell 78), Easton, Duff (Coutts 46), Pearce, Arfield (Loy 68), Caddis, Maguire (Millar 65), Murphy, McDonald (Goodwillie 46), Stevenson (Lennon 79).

Northern Ireland Under-21s: Carson, Chapman (McMenamin 46), Lafferty (Flynn 46), Casement, Cathcart, Evans (Magee 86), Shroot (Lawrie 46), Weir, Little, McQuoid (McQuilken 67), Ferguson (Collligan 80). Subs not used: O'Neill.

Referee: B Rafati (Germany).

Attendance: 2,149.

Craig Gardner and Frazier Campbell scored a goal each as England Under-21s beat Czech Republic 2-0 at Bramall Lane.