English Schools' Football Association

England boys pictured before the match at Windsor Park

After the disappointing Centenary Shield performance in Wales, England Under 18 Schools’ Manager, Andy Williams, wanted a decisive start to this game and couldn’t have been more delighted with the pace of England’s early attacks and a goal after only 5 minutes. Despite walking out to play on the National Stadium of Northern Ireland, Windsor Park, England showed no fear, and it could have been even more by 5 minutes as a George Newton cross in the 3^rd minute was chested down by Peter Glenn-Ravenhill into the path of Tom Fouhy but his curling left foot drive fizzed past the right hand post with Northern Irish keeper, Carter Dewson, stranded. Fouhy was again involved in the 5^th minute with a crashing low cross from the left which Dewson could only parry into the path of a delighted Glenn-Ravenhill who tapped home. 1-0 to England.

With Jack Pounce locking up the centre of the park, England were able to keep relentless pressure on the Irish, and the pace of Michael Sweet and Fouhy left them chasing shadows much of the time. Sweet cruised past two defenders into the box after 8 minutes but tried to pick his spot and place the ball in the net, but his low power effort was easy for the keeper. Sweet wasn’t going to make the same mistake again, and when, after 23 minutes, the stylish Olly Davies saw him free 40 yards away across the pitch he let rip a Beckhamesq left foot pass which demanded one touch control and blasting into the net – Sweet dutifully obliged from 15 yards out and England went 2-0 up.

The first attempt of any merit by Northern Ireland then came after 25 minutes when the ever impressive John McGuigan dropped his shoulder on the top of the box, sent the England centre backs chasing shadows while he lined up a cracker of a 20 yard shot which keeper Connor Adams was delighted to see rattle the cross bar and rebound safely out of the box again.

The Fouhy, Davies, Sweet team were again in action in the 30^th minute, the result being a beautifully weighted ball from Davies a la Barcelona into the box for Sweet to run on to, but keeper Dawson was just quick enough off his line to foil this most promising thrust.

A spell of Irish pressure then followed as they showed more ambition in attack and a lovely one two between Aaron McEneff and Stephen Cockcroft left England right back, Newton, stranded for once and the very pacey Cockcroft was able to head toward the by-line and hammer over a low cross which looked every bit like being converted into a goal but Louis Mobbs rose to the challenge and flicked the ball off the toe of the advancing McGuigan who looked favourite to score. The resulting corner came to nothing but Northern Ireland were having a purple patch and in the 33^rd minute could have scored, when a ball in from the right was left bouncing in the box but it fell kindly for England and Connor Adams was able to scoop it up.

The crowd of almost 1000 at Windsor Park was royally entertained in the first half with England having more than 60% of the ball possession and Tom Fouhy in particular affecting the game in so many ways. He was really instrumental in one spell just before the interval when England put together 18 passes without reply, but even though the Irish were dragged from one side of the pitch to the other a decisive final ball was never forthcoming. The crowd were certainly left gasping right at the end of the 2 minutes added time in the first half when Sweet went away and clear but his shot hit the keepers feet, the ball rebounded to Glenn-Ravenhill whose shot hit a defender, his second blast hit the keeper again until finally Sweet pushed the ball past the near post. 2-0 at half time.

The half time tea must have been laced with energy juice because Northern Ireland played with considerably more dash and verve at the start of the second half, but early pressure and some poor defending by England resulted only in a few ragged shots. Daniel Dillon, already playing in professional leagues, was inspirational in this revival, but sadly the Irish did not have the forwards available to convert chances into goals.

England, however, soon regained their composure and in the 51^st minute forced three consecutive corners, a Sweet volley being first deflected away, then a Lloyd Harrington header being tipped over and the third attempt scrambled clear by the Irish. Ashleigh Artwell replaced Kyle Downey and in the 55^th minute with his first touch of the game blasted a low shot goal bound from 20 yards but it was well saved by the keeper. The inevitable happened in the 57^th minute when Fouhy broke free with dashing pace on the left, hit a high cross to the far post where Louis Mobbs rose like a salmon and headed down into the path of Sweet who stroked home for his second goal. 3-0 to England.

In a similar left wing attack only 5 minutes later Olly Davies hit the cross of the game, bending the ball behind the Irish back 4 with his classy left foot, into the path of Ben Mooney whose first shot hit the custodian, but then bounced up for him to follow up and head home. 4-0 to England.

Joe Bunney replaced Sweet and tried desperately to add his name to the team sheet. His best chance came after 85 minutes when Dan Jones slid a ball through to set him one on one against the keeper, but advancing the goalie was able to make himself bigger than Mr McGregor’s gate and Bunney pushed the ball just wide of the post.

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