Scotland Schoolgirls Under 15s put in an excellent performance against Hamilton Academical yesterday, at Holy Cross High School, in their first game since the squad was picked.
Scotland Schoolgirls Under 15 squad played their first game together as a squad yesterday against Hamilton Academical at Holy Cross High School. The previous game, against Spartans in January, was cancelled due to frost.
Scotland only had 13 players available due to international call-ups, illness and injury.
The game was split into three period of 25 minutes to allow National coach David Thomson to give all the girls game time and to try out a number of formation combinations.
Hamilton Accies started the first period the more dominant team with Scotland having to defend a number of attacks. Alex Reid, in goal, had to be on her toes to prevent Accies taking the lead.
The Accies pressure paid off when, in the 8th minute, they had a chance to go in front.
Good play down the right saw the ball played in to their number 11 who hit an early shot across the advancing Alex Reid but it just missed the goal.
Scotland responded to this pressure and their midfield players of Lily Boyce, Dara Ositelu, Izzy Young and Darra Dawson started to see more of the ball and push the game higher up the pitch.
Scotland opened the scoring in the 17th minute. They won a corner on the right. A short corner was taken and the ball was delivered to the back post where Izzy Young was waiting to tap the ball home.
The first period continued with both sides attempting to gain the upper hand. Scotland were building up from the back with both Kate Fraser and Orla Burn getting forward as often as they could. Lily Boyce and Izzy Young were developing an good understanding. Amy Sharky, up front, was causing Accies problems with her fast direct running with the ball.
The second period started with a number of changes in Scotland’s line up and one minute into the period Scotland added a second. An attack down the right saw the ball with Amy Sharkey. Amy looked up and played the ball across Hamilton’s six yard box to the back post for the onrushing Orla Burn to knock the ball into the net
Scotland were well on top now and added a third two minutes later. A fast break by Dara Ositelu down the left wing who got to the byeline before cutting the ball across Hamilton’s six yard box for Izzy Young to squeeze the ball home from six yards out.
The goals gave the Scotland players confidence to start to be more adventurous and you could see the girls starting to get used to playing with each other.
Three minutes after scoring a third, Scotland added another. A long kick out from Kayla Scott was played into the path of Izzy Young who drilled the ball home from 18 yards out.
As in period two National coach David Thomson made a number of both personal and tactical chances for the final period.
Three minutes in , Kate Fraser, came up for a corner and headed the ball into the net from six yards out. Against her club side as well.
Five minutes later the Accies keeper pulled of a great save from a Olivia McStay header.
Despite being pinned back for a long while the young Hamilton side looked dangerous on the break.
Close to full-time Amy Sharkey had a great run, beating three defenders before shooting only to be denied by another fine save by the Accies keeper.
In the final minutes Orla Burn added her second goal of the game when she smashed the ball into the net at the back post
Scotland players: Alex Reid, Kayla Scott, Orla Burn, Taylor Coulter, Darra Dawson, Kate Fraser, Olivia McStay, Lily Boyce, Amelia Chomczuk, Izzy Young, Freya Brien, Data Ositelu, Amy Sharkey.
Scotland Squad
