Northern Ireland’s Under-16s drew 2-2 with Scotland in an entertaining Victory Shield match staged in north Wales this afternoon.
However, it could have been a different story. The Scots deservedly led at half-time before Northern Ireland turned it around after the break, going 2-1 up and bossing proceedings. They then missed a penalty before Scotland grabbed a point with a late strike.
Competition
SAFIB Victory Shield
Scoreline
Scotland U16s 2 Northern Ireland U16s 2
Scorers
Scotland: Burke (11’), Teasdale (76’)
Northern Ireland: Hamilton (46’ pen, 50’)
Venue
Cae-y-Castell Stadium, Flintshire, Wales
Date
8 November 2023
Team News
This was the Northern Ireland U16 Schoolboys’ second match in this year’s Victory Shield competition.
Head coach Kris Lindsay made eight changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Cymru (Wales) in the opening encounter.
Only goalkeeper Zak Robinson and midfielders Matthew Burns and Chris Atherton kept their places in the starting XI for the match at the home of Flint Town United FC.
How it happened
The Scots had the first chance of the game, with Northern Ireland keeper Zak Robinson diving full length to push away a deflected Cole Burke shot in the ninth minute.
However, Scotland took the lead two minutes later with a peach of a strike from Burke. The winger’s effort from 20 yards flew into the bottom corner.
Jamie Hislop tested Robinson with a low drive before Northern Ireland captain Jayden Charnley blocked a goal-bound Zander McAllister effort.
Scotland dominated the opening 25 minutes, but after that Northern Ireland were much better.
A clearance from a Chris Atherton corner fell to Jack Faloona just outside the area and his rasping shot was blocked by the Scottish defence. And from another Atherton corner the ball dropped to Charnley whose scooped effort landed on the top of the net.
Just before the break the lively Burke let fly again, but Robinson was equal to it.
Half-time: Scotland U16s 1 Northern Ireland U16s 0
Northern Ireland started the second half on the front foot. A Christian Coyle shot was nudged goalwards by Scott Hamilton, however Scotland keeper Cameron Patterson gathered the ball at the near post.
The boys in green and white equalised on 46 minutes from the penalty spot. Kalum Thompson was brought down by Scotland’s Jack Caldwell inside the area and Hamilton stepped forward to slam home the spot kick.
Four minutes later Hamilton got his second. Patterson failed to deal with a back pass and Hamilton nipped in to nudge the ball past the keeper into the net.
Minutes later Hamilton steered a free-kick inches past the post before Patterson pushed out a cross from substitute Harry Allen. Another sub, George Feeney, ran in behind the Scottish defence and Patterson did well to save at his feet.
Northern Ireland continued to push and Glenn McCourt had a shot saved by the Scotland keeper before Northern Ireland won another penalty. Feeney was upended by Euan Glasgow inside the area and took the spot kick, however Patterson managed to push it out.
Scotland equalised when substitute Joseph Teasdale got on the end of a corner and nodded the ball home from two yards.
Right at the death Patterson made an excellent stop from a Ceadach O’Neill bullet header.
The final match in the series for Northern Ireland will be against Republic of Ireland at the Cae-y-Castell Stadium on Saturday (11 November). That game is due to kick off at 11.02am after a two-minute silence is observed to mark Remembrance Day.
Full-time: Scotland U16s 2 Northern Ireland U16s 2
Line-ups
Scotland U16s:Cameron Patterson, Cameron Williams, Euan Glasgow, Ezekiel Molife, Zander McAllister, Cole Burke, Alexander Smith (captain), Hayden Borland, Aiden McCallion, Jamie Hislop, Jack Caldwell.
Substitutes: Alastair Graham (GK), Jack Barr, Lewis Carrol, Jacob Donnelly, Oliver Goodbrand, Fletcher Boyd, Marcus Syme, Taylor Hogarth, Joseph Teasdale.
Northern Ireland U16s: Zak Robinson, Jayden Charnley (captain), Harry Moran, Calum Anderson, Jack Faloona, Matthew Burns, Christian Coyle, Chris Atherton, Kalum Thompson, Scott Hamilton, Aron KC.
Substitutes: (used) Troy Savage, Glenn McCourt, Harry Allen, George Feeney, Darragh McCann, Ceadach O’Neill; (unused) Milo Beimers (GK), Alex Watson, Noah McDonnell, Callum Leacock, Sidney Eldred.
