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Scotland under-17's first half goal
against the United States was greeted by an unusual celebration and
goalscorer Daniel Dalziel revealed the story behind it to Women's Soccer
Scene after the match, explaining it was sparked off by an act of
forgetfulness by team mate Molly McKean.
England 1 Holland 0 England will play the Auld Enemy Scotland in the Final of the Nationwide Under-17 Tournament on Friday after they defeated Holland 1-0 with a superbly taken Ellen White goal at Forest Green Rovers F.C. England went into the game needing a victory to qualify and dominated the early possession with Lizzie Edwards again at the heart of things, with midfield partner Faye McCoy going close with a drive after a good lay-off from White. McCoy again threatened with a looping header from a Claire Rafferty which was inches over the bar and White was denied by a smothering save from Eline Roet after charging down a clearance. England were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty as Katie Owen was tugged back in the area and, with McCoy firing over from a goalmouth scramble following a corner, they could not find the goal their first half performance deserved. Two minutes into the second half, England got the breakthrough with a goal worth waiting for. McCoy produced a superb defence splitting pass which released White on goal and the Chelsea striker rounded Roet before coolly sliding the ball home from an acute angle. With McCoy and Edwards controlling midfield, England looked for a killer second goal but could not find the final pass and were frustrated on a number of occasions. Holland introduced an extra striker and passed up a glorious chance to level the scores. A weak goal kick from Helen Alderson was intercepted by Gisele Fraikin, her pass found Chantal de Ridder who squared the ball across goal for Bibi Cox but the substitute blazed over the bar from six yards. England responded by winning a corner, from which McCoy headed against the bar, Olivia Thackray's follow up shot was blocked on the line and the ball ran loose to Georgina Giddings whose goalbound effort was charged down. Holland piled on the pressure in the dying minutes but England stood firm with Sophie Bradley having an outstanding match in the centre, well supported by Gilly Flaherty alongside her. However there was to be an escape in injury time as Fraikin broke down the right and crossed for Cox whose deft lob over Alderson came back off the post. After the game, manager Lois Fidler said: "I'm really pleased with the win, everyone gave 100 per cent. There were some great individual performances which contributed to a great all round team display. "Sophie Bradley was outstanding at the back but I also thought that Sophie Walton played very well at right back. Faye McCoy produced a great assist for the goal and has a great range of passing, while Ellen White scored a good goal, she is always quite predatory and scares defenders to death." Looking forward to Friday's Final against Scotland, Lois added: "We've had a lot of experience of playing Scotland at under-19 level and the matches are always competitive and physical. The Scots always want to do well against England and it is going to be hard." England: Helen Alderson, Sophie Walton, Georgina Giddings, Faye McCoy (sub Remi Allen 74 mins), Sophie Bradley, Gilly Flaherty, Katie Owen (sub Jade Moore 60 mins), Lizzie Edwards (capt), Vicky Vickery, Ellen White, Claire Rafferty (sub Olivia Thackray 53 mins). Subs not used: Bridie Fox, Kate Longhurst, Chelsea Weston, Emily Morphitis. Holland: Eline Roet, Jette van Vlerken (sub Bibi Cox 60 mins), Sherida Spitse, Mandy van der Berg, Cynthia Beekhuis, Lianne de Vries, Roos Kwakkenbos (capt), Marloes Hulshof, Gisele Fraikin, Chantal de Ridder, Renate Jansen. Subs not used: Marlous Pieete, Laura Graper, Whitney Meerzorg, Maartje Joosten, Suzanne de Kort, Tiffany Loeve. Photo - England's Vicky Vickery takes on Marloes Hulshof (James Prickett).
Scotland under-17s basked in their
achievement of reaching the Final of the Nationwide tournament and are
relishing the chance to take on England on
Friday.
Scotland under-17 coach Tony Gervaise hailed his team's performance as "magnificent" as they drew 1-1 with the United States to earn their place in the Final of the Nationwide Under-17 tournament. "To take the USA on and get a draw is a great result," he told Women's Soccer Scene after the game. "We were resolute, disciplined and concentrated and it was a great team effort. We had to change our formation for this match and the girls had to get used to it, but our defending was excellent, you have got to compete at this level and the players gave everything. "We beat Holland for the first time in last year's tournament and to draw with the United States today is fantastic, so we are progressing nicely. Our under-15s are a good side as well and the potential for the future is really exciting."
 Scotland 1 USA 1Scotland are through to the Final of the Nationwide Under-17 tournament after an impressive first half, followed by a gritty second half performance, earned them a 1-1 draw with the USA and the draw they required to win their group on goal difference in an action packed match at Clevedon. Scotland made a bright start and carried the game to the USA in the first half with strikers Danica Dalziel and Kaydee Lowe looking lively. Kim Little and Jennifer Beattie were dominating in midfield and their efforts were rewarded as Dalziel gave them the lead with a powerful 25-yard strike past Jillian Mastroianni, which prompted a bizarre celebration by the whole team. The United States hit back strongly, firstly as Lorna Brownlie's clearance from a back pass was charged down by Brianna Garcia but Roslyn McCallum was on hand to clear from in front of goal. Garcia, fresh from her hat-trick against Northern Ireland the previous day, was starting to look dangerous and she broke free from a Erika Thiesen pass before her lob was parried by Brownlie and, after a huge goalmouth scramble, Caroline McKelvie finally cleared. Dalziel was just unable to convert an excellent cross from Molly McKean but Scotland were well worth their 1-0 lead at half time. After the break, USA were playing with the wind at their backs but it was Scotland who produced the first effort, a 20-yard dipping shot from Dalziel which was just over, whilst the industrious Little also had a shot charged down. As the game wore on, the United States grew stronger and increased the pressure. Brownlie made saves from Rachel Breton and Garcia but the equaliser was to come with five minutes left on the clock. An inswinging corner from Aimee Bux was bundled over the line by Breton and the group was back in the balance again. Thiesen headed wide from another corner and Brownlie saved well from Amy Caldwell before McKelvie cleared off the line as Scotland stood firm under a wave of USA attacks in the dying minutes. With virtually the last touch of the game, Thiesen looked to have given the Americans victory by heading home a Bux corner but a foul had been given and Scotland had booked their place in the Final. Scotland: Lorna Brownlie, Roslyn McCallum, Caroline McKelvie, Jennifer Beattie, Stephanie Handley, Molly McKean, Kim Little, Lauren McMillan, Kaydee Lowe (sub Melissa Stirling 73 mins), Christie Murray (sub Nicola Ross 57 mins), Danica Dalziel. Subs not used: Rachel Harrison, Nuala Deans, Jade Blackmore, Leanne Reid, Cheryl McCulloch. United States: Jillian Mastroianni, Aimee Bux, Amy Caldwell, Erika Markley (sub Courtney Mercier 24 mins), Megan Mischler (sub Tiffany Yovino 47 mins), Rachel Sheehy, Erika Thiesen, Brianna Garcia, Alexa Thompson (sub Rachel Breton 40 mins), Miyuki Hino, Adrienne Lerner. Subs not used: Grace Bernard, Nicole Choffel, Danielle Dakin. Photo - Danica Dalziel fires home Scotland's goal (James Prickett).
 England and Republic of Ireland drew a
blank in their opening match in the Nationwide Under-17 tournament, in
front of a healthy crowd of around 500 at the Hand Stadium in
Clevedon.England had the better of possession in a tight first half but struggled to break down a well organised Ireland defence, coming closest when Ellen White was denied by a smothering save from Michelle Byrne. At the other end, striker Stephanie Roche was proving a handful after coming on as an early substitute and twice went close before half time, forcing a save from Helen Alderson as well as a snapshot on the turn which was just off target. After the break, Alderson kept England on level terms with a superb point blank save, coming off her line to foil Michelle Glynn as she latched onto Roche's flick. England responded with Kate Longhurst unlucky to see an overhead kick go just wide from Katie Owen's cross, but again they found it difficult to create chances despite the industrious efforts of the impressive Lizzie Edwards. Jade Moore showed some neat touches after coming on as a substitute and she tested Byrne from long range, and White sent a difficult left foot volley just wide from Georgina Giddings' deflected pass. Longhurst saw a shot saved by Byrne from Moore's pass but Ireland dug in determinedly during the closing stages to earn themselves a deserved draw. After the game, England coach Lois Fidler said: "I am pleased overall with the performance, we had a team with three debutants and it was a great opportunity to give these players a chance. "If you get the preparation right, the results will take care of themselves. The players got a chance to play in front of a home crowd, sing the national anthem and experience what playing for England is all about. "We are really pleased with the attendance - it is good to see people turning out for the women's game, especially youngsters, and we hope they will come again. The players really appreciate it." England's next match is on Wednesday evening against Holland at Forest Green Rovers FC and Lois is relishing the match, saying: "It should be a great game. The Dutch are an emerging nation in women's football, we played them at under-19 level recently and it is another great opposition for the girls." England: Helen Alderson, Birdie Fox (sub Chelsea Weston 71 mins), Georgina Giddings, Remi Allen (sub Jade Moore 61 mins), Sophie Bradley (capt), Sophie Walton, Katie Owen, Lizzie Edwards, Kate Longhurst, Ellen White, Olivia Thackray (sub Clare Rafferty 54 mins). Subs not used: Emily Morphitis, Faye McCoy, Gilly Flaherty, Vicky Vickery. Republic of Ireland: Michelle Byrne, Catriona McGilp (sub Rebeka Penco 77 mins), Catriona Connellan, Lynn-Marie Grant (capt), Christina Byrne (sub Stephanie Annketall 80 mins), Emma Reilly, Jennifer Critchley (sub Rachel Graham 65 mins), Michelle Glynn, Rebecca Creigh, Noelle Murray (sub Stephanie Roche 14 mins), Paula Murray. Subs not used: Anne Mullen, Sarah Finnerty, Niamh Mulcihy. Photo - England winger Katie Owen tries to block a clearance from Catriona Connellan (James Prickett).
Scotland under-17 captain Kim Little was delighted with her team's opening 4-0 victory over Northern Ireland in the Nationwide tournament. The Hibernian midfielder was on the scoresheet and told Women's Soccer Scene after the game: "It's the first time we have played together and I am very proud with the performance. It was absolutely brilliant to captain my country. "Now we have to play the USA in our next match, which is the biggest challenge of all. We are really looking forward to it." Kaydee Lowe described her stunning 20-yard volley as 'the best goal I have ever scored' and smiled: "It was a peach. "We did everything we could today and it was a really good win." Scotland coach Tony Gervaise added: "Overall I am happy with the team's performance and keeping a clean sheet. We can play but also the organisation was great and it is a fair start for us. We have a new group at this level who had never even trained together before this week and there are a number of new caps. "Kaydee Lowe was winning her first cap for us and scored an excellent goal just minutes after coming on as a substitute, and that is a great start for her. "It is always a challenge playing the USA but we can look forward to the game on Wednesday with confidence."
 Scotland produced an excellent display of
finishing to run out 4-0 winners over luckless Northern Ireland in the
opening match of the Nationwide Under-17 tournament at Forest Green Rovers
F.C.The Scots got off to the best possible start by taking the lead in the third minute, Damica Dalziel rounding off a good move by driving home a low shot. Buoyed by their early goal, Scotland sought to add to their lead with Dalziel and Lauren McMillan going close but Northern Ireland defended well to keep the deficit at one, going into half time. After the break, Kirsty Eddis was quick off her line to prevent Dalziel from grabbing another goal but the Irish then enjoyed their best spell of the game. Scotland goalkeeper Lorna Brownlie did well to palm away a dangerous cross from Trudi Harbinson and Alison Smitch fired a 25-yard free kick just over. Dalziel went close again after good play from Kim Little but Northern Ireland were almost back on terms as the Scotland defence failed to deal with a free kick. Brownlie blocked Kirsty McGuckin's shot and the ball ran loose to Harbinson whose 25-yard effort was goalbound but cleared in front of goal by a covering Caroline McKelvie. Scotland began to press again with the lively Dalziel volleying over from six yards after a good run and cross from Melissa Stirling. However a minute later, they took a firm grip on the game as Molly McKean's ball into the area was helped on by Kaydee Lowe and into the path of Little who finished confidently. Northern Ireland had already lost three players through injury during the match and were reduced to ten players when Smitch was stretchered off with concussion. Scotland made good use of their player advantage and duly scored the goal of the game when, moments after having shot just wide from similar range, Lowe met a Dalziel cross with a superb 20-yard volley which gave Eddis no chance. With the Irish players tiring, Scotland struck again as Little's corner was slotted home from close range by Stephanie Handley for the fourth goal. In an extended injury time, Eddis made an excellent save from Little's deflected shot and McKean, who had an impressive second half, also went close as Scotland continued their strong finish. Scotland: Lorna Brownlie, Roslyn McCallum, Caroline McKelvie, Jennifer Beattie, Stephanie Handley, Molly McKean, Kim Little (capt), Lauren McMillan, Cheryl McCulloch (sub Melissa Stirling 32 mins), Christie Murray (sub Kaydee Lowe 67 mins), Damica Dalziel. Subs not used: Rachel Harrison, Nicola Deans, Nuala Deans, Jade Blackmore, Leanne Reid. Northern Ireland: Kirsty Eddis, Katherine Canavan (sub Nisha Dunen 61 mins), Emma Speers, Jacqueline McCutchen (sub Donna Bonner 53 mins), Jemma Lynch, Alison Smitch, Trudi Harbinson, Ashleigh McKee (sub Terri McGee 16 mins), Alex Ogyle (sub Kirsty McGuckin 57 mins), Makyla Mulholland (sub Melissa Orr 61 mins), Tonny Mount. Subs not used: Karri Nicholl, Nadine Spraile. Photo - Scotland captain Kim Little (right) batlles with Northern Ireland midfielder Terri McGee (James Prickett).
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