Centenary Shield: England 4-1 Scotland

Sunday 25 April 2010By ESFA Office

Last Updated:
10/02/2021 10:49:08

Thomas Boakye U18 England Schools v Scotland Schools

Thomas Boakye takes on the Scotland defence

The Sky Sports cameras were present as England hosted Scotland on St George’s Day at Carlisle United. The instructions from team manger, Phil Nardiello, were simple; to finish this season’s Centenary Shield campaign in style. However, the Scots were in no mood to allow England the freedom of Brunton Park and arrived with intentions of spoiling the young lions’ party.

England started well and gained plenty of territorial advantage, but it was Scotland that took the lead on 16 minutes when striker, Martin Boyle, side-footed home from close range following a rare foray forward. It was Scotland’s first goal against England in this competition since 2003, when Scotland last beat England.

The goal shook the hosts for a while, but with England captain Nick Hancock pulling the strings in centre midfield, the young lions began to get a foot hold on the game once again. Much like England’s previous match against New Zealand it was a combination of wayward shooting and good defending by the visitors that prevented England scoring before the interval.

Half time saw Phil Nardiello introduce a change of formation from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2, together with a double substitution. The change of tactics would later be shown as a stroke of genius by the England boss, who is due to step down from his position as team manager at the end of this season.

England started the second half playing at an increased tempo and pressed the Scottish much higher up the pitch. They were rewarded immediately on 46 minutes, when Kenny Reeves linked up brilliantly with substitute, Tim Rivers, to put the hosts back on level terms. Reeves cleverly flicked the ball into the path of Rivers on the edge of the Scotland area and Rivers dispatched his effort past Murphy with great precision.

Just 104 seconds elapsed by the time England struck again on 48 minutes. England centre half Andrew Kelly collected the ball on the edge of his own area and surged forward into the Scotland half, exchanged a one-two with Whitehead and continued to power forward to the Scotland by-line where he showed great composure to pull back for Kenny Reeves who tapped home from close range.

Another England substitute had an immediate impact on 77 minutes, as the ball fell to Luke Boyce on the edge of the Scotland penalty area and with his first touch since appearing from the bench, he unleashed an unstoppable rising strike which left the keeper with no chance.

England completed the second half rout on 87 minutes when Daren Regis, nephew of Cyril Regis, crossed the ball across the face of the Scottish six yard box where Orsi misplaced his clearance into his own net.

England now go into the final match of the Centenary Shield campaign against Republic of Ireland next Friday knowing that if they avoid defeat they will be crowned champions for 2010.

England: Molloy (GK); Yorke, Kelly, Moyo, Williams; Boakye (Robinson, 88), Wilkinson (Thompson-Brown, 59), Hancock (Captain), Whitehead (Boyce, 75); Whitham (Rivers, 45), Reeves.

Scotland: Murphy (GK); Orsi, Kirwan. Mushet, Cook; A Hunter (Emslie, 66), McSorley, Bucknell, M Hunter, Fitzpatrick; Boyle.

England U18 Results and Table 2010


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