Under-21s set to face top German club sides in Berlin

THERE may be 11 months to go to the European Junior Nations Championships in Den Bosch, but Derek Forsyth, Scotland’s under-21 coach, believes in meticulous preparation, so travels with a squad to take on top German club sides in the prestigious Blau-Weiss tournament in Berlin this weekend. In today’s pool matches, the Scots will face Munchner, Lichterfelde and host side Berlin, and a top-two place would see Forsyth’s charges in tomorrow’s semi-finals.

There are several changes from the side that lost twice to England at Inverclyde a fortnight ago. Coming in are Tom O’Kelly, the Aberdeen Asset Management goalkeeper; Fraser Sands, who has just moved from Cala Edinburgh to Grange; former Grove Menzieshill player Gareth Davies and Glynhill Kelburne defender Josh Cairns. But the team will centre around Kelburne pair Michael Bremner in midfield and Alan Forsyth up front, who are now well established in the Scotland senior squad.

Inverleith travel to Ireland with a squad of 22 players for the final build-up before the Subway national league starts next weekend. It will be a testing three days for the Edinburgh side with four games against English premier league side Cannock, followed by top Irish sides Mossley, Fingal and Cookstown.

Meanwhile, on the home front, Cala host an invitational tournament at Meggetland as the final preparations for their top-flight baptism after several years in the Second Division. Coach Neil Allan will test his charges against First Division opposition in AMN Hillhead and the Tayside rivals Grove Menzieshill and VWS Dundee Wanderers.

Cala have also organised a women’s tournament and invited quality opposition in five-times champions Grove along with Dundee Wanderers, runners-up in the league last season, and Glynhill Kelburne. The highlight should be the clash between the Tayside rivals, which last time ended 3-3 in the final league game of last season.

In the Sainsbury’s UK School Games in Sheffield, Scotland’s girls lost 3-0 to England. The Scots youngsters were a goal down at the interval in a closely fought affair. In the second half, chances fell to Amber McNeill, Lucy Lanigan and Lucy Preston, but it was the English who found the net twice.

After a draw and defeat, Scotland sit third in the group and play Wales – who lost 9-1 to Ulster yesterday – in their final game, hoping for a victory that could still see them finish second.