Winger Ross McCausland capped a whirlwind couple of months as he helped Rangers lift the Viaplay Scottish League Cup following a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen at Hampden Park at the weekend.
The 20-year-old, who made his full international debut in the 4-0 defeat in Finland last month, was given yet another start by Rangers boss Phillipe Clement as they looked to win the first domestic trophy of the season.
“Over the past two months I didn't expect to be in this situation to win my first trophy after my first 14 games,” he told Viaplay Sports.
“It's something I've thought about for years, growing up a Rangers fan and always wanting to play for the club. Honestly, it’s so amazing...My mum, dad and my girlfriend are here.
“Hopefully there’s many more to come,” added the former Linfield player, who recently signed a long-term deal with the club. “The fans are amazing, I’m speechless, I’m speechless.”
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) December 17, 2023
On the goalscoring front, defender Eoin Toal scored a late consolation goal for 10-man Bolton Wanderers who saw their automatic promotion hopes take a knock following a 2-1 home defeat to Bristol Rovers, a result which sees them drop down to fifth spot in League One.
Elsewhere in the division, Ethan Galbraith came off the bench to fire home an injury-time winner against Luke Southwood’s Cheltenham Town as Leyton Orient ended their nine game run without a league victory.
Northern Ireland striker Lauren Wade made it two goals in three games when she scored in Reading’s 1-1 home draw with Crystal Palace in the Women’s Championship while Caitlyn Chapman took her tally for the campaign to seven after being among the scorers in TNS’s 4-1 victory over Cardiff Met.
ONE BACK!! TOALY!!
— Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) December 16, 2023
A deflected free-kick falls into Eoin Toal's path and he diverts it into the net!
[1-2] 84' #bwfc pic.twitter.com/rmoOIGrWKy
In the Premier League in England, Jonny Evans starred in the heart of the Manchester United defence as Erik ten Hag’s outfit left Anfield with a point following a scoreless draw against Liverpool who had Conor Bradley on the substitute’s bench.
Meanwhile in the Championship, it was encouraging for Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill to see Trai Hume, Dan Ballard, George Saville, Conor Hazard, Ali McCann, Jordan Thompson and Jamal Lewis all play the full ninety minutes for their respective clubs at the weekend.
In Scotland, Trevor Carson kept his eighth clean sheet of the campaign as Dundee recorded a single goal victory at Ross County however Kilmarnock failed to make it three wins in a row after being held to a goalless draw at bottom-of-the-table Livingston.
Speaking after the game Killie midfielder Brad Lyons said; “It’s not the win we were looking for. We were coming here on the back of two wins so we wanted the three points. I really think conditions played a part for both teams out there.
‘It was windy and really blustery so I don’t think it was one people would be watching back too soon.”
In the U18 Premier League Cup, Jack Doherty scored for Fleetwood Town as they lost 2-1 at home to Wigan Athletic while former Glentoran youth Conor Haughey was also a starter for the home outfit.
Finally, there were assists for winger Paddy Lane in Portsmouth’s 3-0 success at Shrewsbury Town and also for Rebecca McKenna in Charlton Athletic’s 2-2 draw at Sheffield United in the Women’s Championship.