English Schools' Football Association

England No.16 Alex Meaney battles for possession against Wales

England earned their first three points of the 2011 Centenary Shield when they beat rivals Wales by a goal to nil at Huish Park on Friday evening.

A noisy, youthful crowd of more than 6,000 saw a delightful chip from Jordan Ayris on 53 minutes settle the game though in truth, the young Lions should have won at a canter, such was their advantage in both possession and chances.

England, managed by Andy Williams, looked by far the brighter side in the early stages and Taunton-born midfielder Tom Hurley's downward volley was their first sight on goal.

Centre half Jamie Summers flicked a header just wide from eight yards out from Alex Meaney's inswinging free kick on twelve minutes and striker Jordan Ayris fired over after creating room for himself outside the box.

Though most of the play was in midfield, England were still creating all the chances and the Welsh didn't have a chance to speak of until the half hour mark when, following a corner, the ball was cleared to Dion Donohoe and the Everton academy player flicked up and volleyed straight at England keeper Ed Baldy.

Within a minute, Donohoe had another attempt on goal from a second corner but the impressive Thomas Boakye blocked the effort. The Lions then thought they had taken the lead when Wales appeared to have cleared a header from behind the line but referee Steve Tanner had already blown for a foul.

Connor Thompson was impressing down the right hand side and he fashioned a chance for himself when he cut in from the left but found the angle too tight.

Adam Biddiscombe, the visiting right back, brought down Tom Hurley and from the free kick, Meaney's low cross was thumped over by Summers arriving late in the box.

The only goal of the night came minutes later. Welsh keeper Luke Martin struggled to get any distance on a goal kick and his clearance was picked up by Ayris. The lanky striker burst forward and produced a lovely chip over the stranded keeper for the opening goal.

Wales replied immediately and an English defender had to head against the underside of his own bar after a corner.

England's right back Thomas Boakye, one of the quickest players seen at Huish Park in years, made a sixty yard burst down the line at lightning speed and his cross forced a corner from which Ayris headed wide.

The goalscorer was then forced off after a clash of heads with Biddiscombe and replaced by Portuguese attacker Fabio Goncalves de Abreu and he created the last chance of the night for England for Hurley who saw his effort blocked.

Teams:
England: 17 Ed Baldy, 2 Thomas Boakye, 3 Josh Glover, 5 Jamie Summers, 7 Josh White, 8 Jonny Evans, 9 Jordan Ayris, 12 Connor Thompson, 15 Scott Cheetham, 16 Alex Meaney, 19 Tom Hurley.  Subs: 11 Fabio Goncalves de Abreu (for Ayris 76), 4 Cliff Moyo (for Boakye 78)

Wales: 1 Luke Martin, 2 Adam Biddiscombe, 3 Jake Parry, 4 Christian Jenkins, 5 Sam Rodon, 6 Dan Gibbon, 7 Jamie Davies, 8 Dion Donohoe, 9 Cai Jones, 10 Gethin Maxwell, 11 Ryan Newman. Subs: 16 Adam Davies (for Davies 46), 14 Troy Hiscock-Greening (for Maxwell 90)

Report courtesy of www.ytfc.net
Match DVD and Photos can be purchased via www.rwt-photography.co.uk
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England Squad Player Profiles