Scotland U16s 1 - 2 England U16s: Scotland youngsters can take solace in Shield defeat

Published on Thursday 26 November 2009 23:00

SCOTLAND'S youngsters went down bravely against England in front of a near 3,000 crowd at Tynecastle, however the Auld Enemy retained the Sky Sports Victory Shield for sixth time in a row in their own right with only a shared triumph with Scotland breaking a run of success that goes back to 1999.

Scouts from the SPL and the English Premier League had flocked to the capital with Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United having a four-man delegation watching the best under 16-year-olds from Scotland and England.

Queens Park Rangers' much-talked about striker Raheem Sterling gave a glimpse of why so many top clubs were there in the opening 90 seconds as his trickery took him the touchline with the Scottish defence dealing with his dangerous cut-back at the expense of a fruitless corner.

England came close to opening the scoring in only seven minutes when Andy Jackson rose to meet a free-kick from Matthias Fanimo and his header smacked against the bar and James Wightman did well to clutch Nick Powell's follow-up effort right on his line.

Scotland began to settle after a nervous opening and Islam Feruz warmed the hands of the gloves of Jordon Pickford in the English goal with a 20-yard shot that was pushed round the post.

Powell was gifted a glimpse of goal after Scotland dallied in possession, But he fired over in 25 minutes and Scotland took full advantage by taking the lead with a fine goal in the next minute.

John Heron picked out Jack Grimmer, who had darted in from his right hand side midfield role with a crossfield pass, and the Aberdeen youngster finished with a finely hit right-foot shot.

Scottish joy was shortlived as Scott Campbell made a hash of a clearance just two minutes later to let in Zak Ansah, and he slipped the ball under Wightman from eight yards out with ease.

Campbell redeemed himself three minutes from the break with a finely timed sliding tackle to deny Sterling just as the striker was away to shoot with the Scots almost going in ahead at the interval when Lewis MacLeod released Feruz with the striker sending his parting shot just wide with Pickford beaten. Scotland almost went ahead again in 53 minutes after fine build-up play from Craig Slater who played in Feruz and his parting shot flashed across the face of goal before dropping wide.

England got the goal they needed to retain the Shield right on the hour mark after great work from Fanimo on the right. The West Ham youngster skipped past a couple of challenges before crossing for substitute Hallam Hope, who touched the ball into the path of Blair Turgott and he sent home a fine shot from the edge of the box.

The Scots went down fighting with Feruz missing a close in chance and then referee Steven McLean missing a handball from Jackson in the box which the rest of the Tynecastle crowd saw.

Scotland Under-16s: Wightman (Celtic), Fraser (Celtic), Yaqub (Celtic), Campbell (Hearts), Chalmers (Celtic), Slater (St Mirren) (Scott, Rangers, 72), (MacLeod (Rangers) (Polworth (Inverness Caledonian Thistle, 62), Heron (Celtic), Feruz (Celtic), Grimmer (Aberdeen) (Carrick, Hearts, 68), Kennedy (Kilmarnock). Unused subs: Hamilton (Gk) (Hearts), Carnwath (Hearts), Reilly (St Mirren), Cochrane (Rangers), Rook (Celtic).

England Under-16s: Pickford (Sunderland), Cousins (Charlton), McFadzean (Sheffield United), Cotton (Blackburn Rovers) (Hensall, Swindon Town, 60), Magri (Portsmouth) (Blackett, Manchester United, 70), Jackson (Middlesbrough), Sterling (QPR) (Amenku, West Bromwich Albion, 41), Powell (Crewe Alexandra), Ansah (Arsenal) (Hope, Everton, 41), Fanimo (West Ham United), Turgott (West Ham United) (Hutton, Manchester City, 74). Unused subs: Willis (Sheffield United), Redmond (Birmingham City).

Referee: S McLean Attendance: 2,878.