Schools football: Hammering of England sees Scots finish third

A thumping 4-0 final-day victory over England secured third place for the Lloyds TSB Scotland team in the Bob Docherty Cup in Ireland.

In fact, the only defeat for the under-15 girls came on the opening day, and just by a narrow 3-2 scoreline against the tournament’s eventual winners, Northern Ireland. To add to the disappointment, the winning goal came just seconds before the final whistle.

Scotland trailed 1-0 before Cassie Cowper (Kincorth Academy) and Haylie Sinclair (James Hamilton Academy) put the Scottish girls in front. But Northern Ireland drew level before half-time and then grabbed the very late winner.

On day two, Scotland defeated the Football Association of Ireland Select 2-0. Haylie snatched her second goal of the tournament after Bathgate Academy’s Alyshia Walker had put the Scots in front. Saving the best for last, Carla Jackson (Dalziel High School) was the heroine of the match against the Auld Enemy.

Walker claimed her second goal of the tournament before Carla stepped up to claim a hat-trick. The first came just before half-time, the second was a dazzling run followed by a weave past defenders into the box and the third was a one-to-one against the goalkeeper. It was a great effort by the girls captained by Georgia Rafferty (St Maurice’s High School) and the good news is that eight of the squad are young enough to retain their places next year.

There was disappointment, though, for Scotland’s Under-18 schoolboys, who were beaten 2-0 by their English counterparts at Newcastle United’s Sports Direct Arena last midweek, in front of the watching Gordon Strachan.

The Scots went close to taking the lead on 37 minutes when Lawrence Shanckland blazed over following a dangerous through-ball and the teams went in at the break all-square.

Michael Sweet gave England the lead on 61 minutes when he produced a sublime chip to beat Scottish ‘keeper Kieran Hughes. And it was 2-0 ten minutes from time when Hughes palmed a long-range effort from Jack Pounce and Peter Glen-Ravenhill slotted home the rebound.

BOB DOCHERTY CUP RESULTS

Day 1: Republic of Ireland 1 FAI Select 1 (RoI win on penalties), Scotland 2 Northern Ireland 3, England 1 Wales 1 (England win on penalties).

Day 2: Republic of Ireland 2 England 0, Northern Ireland 4 Wales 1, Scotland 2 FAI Select 0.

Day 3: Wales 2 FAI Select 1 (5th/6th place), Scotland 4 England 0 (3rd/4th place), Northern Ireland 2 Republic of Ireland 1 (1st/2nd place).

SCOTLAND SQUAD

Rebecca Flaherty Banchory Academy), Cassie Cowper (Kincorth Academy), Courtney Whyte (St Roch’s Secondary), Niamh Johnstone (St Ambrose High School), Georgie Rafferty (St Maurice’s High School), Haylie Sinclair (James Hamilton Academy), Alyshia Walker (Bathgate Academy), Erin Cuthbert (Greenwood Academy), Lia Tweedie (Beeslack High School), Louise Brown (Ellon Academy), Carla Jackson (Dalziel High School), Cailin Michie (Boroughmuir High School), Amy Lynch (Currie High School), Brogan Anderson (Hawick High School), Rachel Ross (Greenfaulds High School), Lauren Dawson (Banff Academy), Taylor Watson (Braes High School), Abigail Harrison (Holyrood Secondary School).