Scotland schools: Boys edged out | Girls put up spirited defence

The home side made the best opening of the game’s early stages after 11 minutes. Liam Strachan fed Morgan Reid on the right-hand side of the penalty box but his cross was blocked out for a corner. The kick was taken quickly by Strachan to the dangerous Seyon Koshoedo, who fired a goalbound effort from a tight angle. Welsh central defender Alex Jones blocked the fierce attempt.

This did not spell the end of danger for the Welsh goal, as Mark Smith cut in from the left after receiving a throw-in from the previous clearance. His high, left-foot shot was on target, but was relatively comfortably saved by Wales goalkeeper Jacob Lloyd. Wales broke to the other end one minute later. Ifan Jones found Josh Maksimovic who turned quickly on the edge of the penalty area and fired in a powerful left-foot shot which had to be fisted over by Scottish goalie Fraser Morton.

Scotland had a few chances in the first half, but the interval was reached with a blank score sheet.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Wales grabbed the lead. Nathan Woods and Tomas Bibby combined well down the left to deliver a low cross which Ifan Jones dispatched into the bottom corner from around 12 yards.

Scotland: Fraser Morton (Wallace Hall Academy), Kyle Banner (Graeme High School) (sub: Ryan McRitchie (Millburn Academy) 71 min), Adam Kirkwood (Stranraer Academy), Josh MacDonald (Calderglen High School), Jack Cook (Dunbar Grammar School), Bradley Manson Oldmachar Academy), Seyon Kosheodo (Harlaw Academy), Liam Strachan (North East Scotland College), (sub: Derryn Kesson (Craigie High School) 63 mins), (sub: Adam Martin (Bearsden Academy) 86 mins), John Cunningham (Hamilton Grammar School), Mark Smith (Grove Academy), (sub: Lachie MacLeod (Aberdeen Grammar School) 45 mins).

Subs: Andrew Wilson (St Kentigern’s Academy), Callum Laing (St Joseph’s College).

• SCOTLAND put up a spirited defence of the Bob Docherty Trophy, but a 2-0 defeat by England on Saturday in Wales ended the hopes of a repeat of last year’s victory in Glasgow

The tournament had a slightly different format this year, and the Scotland Under-15 Schools team sandwiched wins over Wales 1 and Wales 2 in between the defeat by England.

England won the title with a 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland in the final, with Scotland finishing in third place. The result was a slight disappointment for the Scottish girls, but it was still a proud weekend for Scotland captain Leah Eddie.

Leah was one of the first intake of girls at the Scottish FA Performance School at Graeme High School. “I started playing when I was at St Margaret’s Primary School in Falkirk and then got a letter asking me to join the Falkirk club,” she explained.

“I then went from there to Central girls and then on to Celtic. But I’ve just rejoined Central and will be playing in the Performance League.”

Now in her fourth year, Leah has now successfully completed the Performance Programme and will be awarded the final qualification at a special ceremony in May.

The 15-year-old, who plays central or right-back, will complete her fifth and sixth years at school, and is contemplating a career in the police.

“But the dream is to become a professional footballer,” she said. “I would love to play for Arsenal or move to the US.

“There were only three other football girls in my year at school, but it’s been great. Ian Ross is the coach and we train every single day. I’m also studying PE, biology, English and maths.

“The next thing for me is the Scottish Under-17 trials. They take place after the summer.”

At the Bob Docherty, Leah scored the first goal for Scotland against Wales 1 and Morgan Cross, Elena Santoyo-Brown, Abby Callaghan, Jemma Marriott and Naomi Welch added further goals for a convincing 6-0 victory.

In the final game, Scotland beat Wales 2 4-0 with Naomi snatching a hat-trick and Michaela McAlonie also getting on the scoresheet.

Scotland squad: Ciara Pollock (St Matthew’s Academy), Leah Eddie (Graeme High School), Leah Fleming (St John’s High School), Tara McGonigle (St Margaret’s Academy), Cara Henderson (Mearns Castle High School), Elena Santoyo-Brown (James Gillespie’s High School), Michaela McAlonie (Craigroyston High School), Jemma Marriott (Braidhurst High School), Lauren Davidson (Lenzie Academy), Abby Callaghan (Holyrood Secondary School), Naomi Welch, (James Young High School), Kara Chalmers (Dunoon Grammar School), Kirstie McIntosh (Bathgate Academy), Morgan Cross (Inverkeithing High School), Kiera Gibson (St Andrew’s Secondary School), Georgia Adderley