Northern Ireland’s Women’s Under-15 development team were defeated in their opening game in the annual Bob Docherty Tournament, which is being hosted in Northern Ireland this year.
Competition
Bob Docherty Tournament
Scoreline
Scotland WU15s 2-0 Northern Ireland WU15s
Scorers
Scotland: Lily McLaughlin (11’), Toni Campbell (15’)
Venue
Greenisland FC, Co Antrim
Date
14 April 2025
Team News
The annual Bob Docherty Tournament, run by the Schools’ Association Football International Board (SAFIB), is being staged in Northern Ireland this year, with the games being played at Greenisland FC’s ground in County Antrim and at the nearby Ulster University Jordanstown campus.
Northern Ireland Women’s Under-15s development team head coach Stephen Graham has chosen an 18-strong panel for games against England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland this week.
The tournament is for U15 schoolgirls’ teams, although the respective squads usually feature several players involved in national development set-ups.
How it happened
It was a pretty even affair before Scotland took the lead with 11 minutes gone, centre forward Lily McLaughlin scoring with a shot from the edge of the area.
Scotland extended their lead just four minutes later when full-back Toni Campbell rose well to head home a corner.
Abi Curley showed some good touches down the right flank and fired in several inviting crosses which Northern Ireland were unlucky not to convert.
On 27 minutes Charley McMullan guided a free-kick over the bar.
Half-time: Scotland WU15s 2-0 Northern Ireland WU15s
Northern Ireland pushed hard after the break to get back into it.
A Curley corner was met by Grace Guest and her header went inches over the bar.
Then Grace Murray won the ball inside the area and got a shot away, however Scotland keeper Lola Rarity saved well.
Scotland hit the crossbar before a Guest strike from the edge of the box also crashed against the woodwork.
Anna Smyth tested the keeper with a shot from distance, while Curley burst down the right flank once again before unleashing a shot which the Scotland keeper caught well.
Full-time: Scotland WU15s 2-0 Northern Ireland WU15s
Line-ups
Scotland WU15s: Lola Rarity, Toni Campbell, Erin Hughes, Kayla Corner, Karis Rankin, Mia Mitchell, Phoebe O’Donnell, Isla Miller, Lily McLaughlin, Alice English, Livvy Petrie.
Substitutes: Julia Gorska (GK), Sophie Mason, Zara Ramage, Freya Black, Anna McRae.
Northern Ireland WU15s: Anna Roberts, Grace Steele, Anayah Lee, Ellie-Mae Turner (captain), Sara Devany, Grace Guest, Charley McMullan, Anna Smyth, Abigail Curley, Annarose Robinson, Grace Murray.
Substitutes: Saskia McLaughlin (GK), Sasha Cowan, Annabelle Shaw, Autumn Edgar, Grace Pinkerton, Caitlin Shields, Ellie Tohill.
Action from Greenisland
