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WALES
UNDER 16’S - 0 NORTHERN IRELAND UNDER 16 -
1
PARK AVENUE STADIUM, ABERYSTWYTH -
FRIDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2007
The Welsh Under 16
squad’s hopes of winning this season’s Sky Sports Victory Shield slipped
away in freezing conditions at Park Avenue, Aberystwyth last Friday.
There was an excellent
turnout of over 2300 supporters on a cold night. It is now down to
Scotland and England to fight out for honours at Falkirk this week.
Both sides started the
game in tentative fashion and gave the ball away easily. There were few
goal opportunities and it wasn’t until the twentieth minute that
Northern Ireland threatened. A long throw level with the edge of the
penalty area was headed on and central defender Shane Duffy headed just
over the bar when well placed. This seemed to spur the home side on,
Clowes fed captain Matthews down the right flank and his excellent
weighted cross fell to Reece Jones who controlled the ball well but
unfortunately pulled a half volley just wide when well placed. Within
minutes Wales were awarded a free kick thirty yards from goal and free
kick specialist Lee McArdle stepped forward to send in a swerving effort
that the Irish keeper was fortunate to save with his legs. The ball
fell to Billy Bodin who had anticipated well but his effort was well
saved by Dickey. Manager Martin Evans quite rightly was disappointed
that Wales did not go in at half time with a one or two goal advantage
from chances created.
The first opportunity of
the second half fell to Wales. Shane Williams was set free down the
left but he fired over the bar and was then pulled back for offside.
The Irish at half time had put on Jamie Douglas and his telling runs
started to cause havoc in the home defence. He slipped past three
defenders before firing just wide and then latched on to a poor
clearance but Leon Closes was alert to the danger and slid in to clear
the danger. With twelve minutes to go the Irish won a series of five
consecutive corners which the Welsh were unable to clear from the danger
area. All corners were well delivered and the fifth was partially saved
by the keeper but fell to substitute Robbie Hume who clipped it into the
net from a narrow angle. As time ran out Wales pressed forward but
Williams unfortunately did not see that three of his team mates were
well placed and he fired straight at the keeper, Dickey in the Irish
goal failed to hold a cross but team mate Hegerty was on hand to clear.
It was a fairly even
game with neither side playing to their ability. The main difference
between the two teams was that the quality of the delivery from dead
ball situations by the Irish was far better. Their goal coming via this
route from a left wing corner.
Squad: Paul Walker (Northampton), Adam
Matthews (Cardiff City) captain, Leon Clowes (Wrexham), Lee McArdle
(Everton), Jonathan Meades (Cardiff City), Joshua Dawkin (Norwich City)
substituted with Ben Jones (Preston North End), Jack Rea (Chester City)
substituted with Jack Mackreth (Tranmere Rovers), Reece Jones (Fulham),
Liam Newman (Burnley), Billy Bodin (Swindon Town) substituted with Lee
Lucas (Swansea City), Shane Williams (Monmouth C of E)
Substitutes not used; Aynsley McDonald (Rushden &
Diamond), Emyr Huws (Swansea City), Connor Roberts and Jonathan Evans
(Aberystwyth)
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WALES UNDER 16’s TO ENTERTAIN
NORTHERN IRELAND AT ABERYSTWYTH
FRIDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2007 KICK OFF 7.45PM -
LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
For the coming Sky
Sports Victory Shield game against Northern Ireland Aynsely MacDonald is
recalled following his recovery from a long term injury and Jack
Mackreth replaces Callum Proctor.
The following
squad has been selected.
Connor Roberts Rhynpark
High
Adam Matthews Penyrheol
Comp. Cardiff City FC
Jonathan
Meades Bishop of Llandaff
Cardiff City FC
Lee McArdle
Cardinal Heenan Everton FC
Leon Clowes Ellesmere
Port High Wrexham FC
Josh Dawkin St.
Ivo Comp. Norwich FC
Reece Jones Southborough
High Fulham
FC
Jack
Rea Holmes Chapel Comp.
Chester City FC
Shane Williams Gyfun
Ystalyfera Monmouth S of
E
Leigh
Smith Mountain Ash Comp.
Cardiff City FC
Liam Newman
Woodford Lodge High Burnley FC
Rhys
Wilson Bryntinon Comp.
Swansea City FC
Ben Jones Connah’s
Quay High Preston North End FC
Billy
Bodin Bradonforest
High Swindon Town FC
Lee
Lucas Aberdare Comp.
Swansea City FC
Aynsley MacDonald
Wrenn High Rushden & Diamond FC
Jack Mackreth
Liverpool College Tranmere Rovers FC
Paul Walker
Samuel Ward Upper School Northampton Town FC
Emyr
Hughes Ysgol y Strade Swansea
City FC
Max Penk Tarporley
High Wrexham FC
Jonathan
Evans Penglais
Aberystwyth
Victory against Northern Ireland will see Wales go
to the top of the Sky Sports Victory Shield table and the championship
will then be decided in the last game when Scotland entertain England.
A Scottish victory will see Scotland and Wales share the Shield but a
drawn game will see Wales crowned as champions. An England victory will
see them as champions.
DC Nickless 19
November 2007
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ENGLAND
UNDER16’s 2 WALES UNDER 16’s 0
SKY
SPORTS VICTORY SHIELD 7.45PM 2 NOVEMBER 2007
NEW
BUCKS HEAD STADIUM, AFC TELFORD
A crowd of over 3,500
turned out at New Bucks Head Stadium, AFC Telford to watch this Sky
Sports Victory Shield game between England and Wales.
England had much the
better of the early exchanges and Wales looked vulnerable to the ball
through the channels. England could have taken the lead as early as the
third minute. A well timed through ball from Tunnicliffe set Baxter
free but his low angled shot flew narrowly wide of the far post. Welsh
keeper Rhys Wilson then saved well from a first time effort from Shelvey
and the keeper then came to the rescue beating out a shot from Baxter
before the Welsh defence scrambled the ball away from danger.
It was on the quarter
hour mark before Wales caused alarm to the home defence when Shane
Williams’s dipping volley went just the wrong side of the crossbar for
the visitors. Three minutes later Dawkin slipped the ball to Reece Jones
and his shot was dealt with by the England keeper Davies. The Welsh
defence of skipper Adam Matthews, Leon Clowes, Lee Mcardle and Max Penk
had to work hard to keep England at bay. In the 33 minute poor
communication between Clowes and Wilson resulted in a throw in being
conceded level with the Welsh penalty area and from the resulting throw
in Reece Jones was adjudged to have fouled Baxter just outside the
penalty area and Shelvey took advantage of the situation and from twenty
yards struck a venomous free kick which clipped the bar before entering
the net giving Wilson no chance. Worse was to come for the visitors
five minutes later when Mcardle brought down his fellow Everton team
mate Baxter who got up dusted himself down and sent Wilson the wrong way
to give England a deserved advantage at the break.
Wales came out in the
second half showing more resolve and limited the home team to fewer
opportunities. Clear-cut chances for both teams were limited in the
second half and there was little goalmouth incidence. Chances for Head
and Bowen were thwarted by excellent saves by the impressive Wilson.
Dawkin had a long range effort saved well by Davies and as the clock
ticked down Davies in the England goal cleared poorly but Proctor
snatched at his shot and the threat evaporated. To their credit the
Welsh boys gave their all and easily absorbed the England threat and a
goal less second half was what they deserved for their high
determination levels and great team spirit.
Squad:
Rhys Wilson (Swansea City), Adam Matthews (Cardiff City) captain,
Max Penk
(Wrexham) 41 minute Jack Rae (Chester City), Leon Clowes (Wrexham), Lee
Mcardle (Everton), Joshua Dawkin (Norwich City) 76 minutes Emyr Huws (
Swansea City), Reece Jones (Fulham), Jonathan Meades (Cardiff
City), Liam Newman (Burnley), Leigh Smith ( Cardiff City) 65 minute
Callum Proctor (Swansea City), Shane Williams (Monmouth C of E) 57
minutes Ben Jones (Preston North End).
Substitutes
not used Billy Bodin (Swindon Town), Lee Lucas (Swansea City) and Paul
Walker (Northampton)
Wales next game in the
competition is against Northern Ireland at Aberystwyth on Friday the
23rd November 2007 kick off 7.45pm.
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Sky
Sports Victory Shield
ENGLAND v WALES - TELFORD
- 2 NOVEMBER 2007 - KICK OFF 7.45PM
For the coming Sky Sports Victory Shield
game against England an unchanged squad has been selected from the team
that beat Scotland 1-0 three weeks ago at Carmarthen. Tom Williams and
Aynsley MacDonald are still suffering injuries that they sustained in
France over a month ago and youngsters Max Penk and Emyr Huws retain
their place in the squad.
The following squad has been selected.
Connor Roberts Rhynpark
High
Adam
Matthews Penyrhed Comp.
Cardiff City
Jonathan
Meades Bishop of
Llandaff Cardiff City
Lee McArdle
Cardinal Heenan Everton
Leon Clowes Ellesmere
Port High Wrexham
Josh Dawkin St.
Ivo Comp. Norwich
Reece Jones Southborough
High Fulham
Jack
Rea Holmes Chapel Comp. Chester
City
Shane Williams Gyfun
Ystalyfera Monmouth S of
E
Leigh
Smith Mountain Ash Comp. Cardiff
City
Liam
Newman Woodford Lodge High Burnley
Rhys
Wilson Bryntirion Comp. Swansea City
Ben
Jones Connah’s Quay High Preston North
End
Billy
Bodin Bradonforest High Swindon
Town
Lee
Lucas Aberdare Comp.
Swansea City
Callum
Proctor Tenby Greenhill
Emyr
Hughes Ysgol y Strade
Swansea City
Max Penk Tarporley
High Wrexham Town
Manager Martin Evans and Technical
Director Osian Roberts are both looking forward to the game following
the sterling performances of the squad in France and the recent narrow
victory against Scotland at Carmarthen in the Sky Sports Victory
Shield.
DC Nickless 25 October 2007
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Sky
Sports Victory Shield
Following two excellent performances in France last
week the Welsh Under 16 squad were full of confidence for the
Wales/Scotland encounter in this season’s opening fixture of the Sky
Sports Victory Shield. The game was played at Richmond Park,
Carmarthen. The organisers were disappointed in the poor turnout.
Wales started the brighter of the two teams with
Jack Rae and Reece Jones winning the midfield battles and the team
played a fast tempo passing game. The Scottish tactics seemed to be to
get the ball down the channels for the fleet footed forwards Max Wright
and James Keating in an attempt to stretch the Welsh defence but to
their credit in the first half defenders Adam Matthews, Leon Clowes, Lee
McArdle and Jonathan Meades were up to the task and combated any threats
except for one occasion when keeper Connor Roberts rushed from his goal
to save bravely at the feet of Keating. At the other end Wales, with
any luck could have scored on at least four occasions. A cross from
Adam Matthews was headed goal wards by Liam Newman but he was
unfortunate to see it skim the angle of bar and post. Then the same
player was on the end of a cross from Josh Dawkin but keeper Connor
Fairley held on to the ball just under the bar. The speedy Shane
Williams came into the game and he beat two players through the centre
of midfield before sliding the ball through to the ever threatening Liam
Newman who had peeled off to the left and Newman’s effort struck the
inside of the near post with the Scottish keeper well beaten. Williams
was following up but a Scottish defender just got in first to clear the
danger. In the dying minutes of the half Williams again threatened down
the left and Leigh Smith was just not able to get on the end of it to
divert it into the goal.
The second half saw the Scottish boys come out with
more urgency and a shot from James Keating hit the heel of McArdle when
it looked to be heading for the bottom corner of the goal. At the other
end Reece Jones went close for the home team. Connor Roberts in the
Welsh goal then saved low down to his left from Max Wright. As time ran
out a long throw, level with the edge of the penalty area, from Adam
Matthews was headed on by Newman and Williams just failed to get in
front of the defender for what would have been an easy opportunity.
With time running out Wales were to score the important goal. In the
first minute of time added on McArdle unleashed a forty yard free kick.
His swerving effort crashed into the net giving the Scottish keeper no
chance. Had it been on Match of the Day it would most probably been
voted the goal of the month.
Squad
Connor Roberts, Adam Matthews, Leon Clowes, Lee
McArdle, Jonathan Meades, Josh Dawkin (Ben Jones), Reece Jones, Jack
Rea, Shane Williams, Leigh Smith (Callum Proctor), Liam Newman Subs Paul
Walker, Lee Lucas, Billy Bodin, Emyr Hughes and Max Penk.
Technical Director and Head Coach Osain Roberts and
Manager Martin Evans both thought that the Welsh team had put in a
sterling performance and that the experience of the two encounters in
France had helped the players jell together as a team and prepare them
for this season’s Sky Sports Victory Shield.
Wales next game in the competition is away to
England on the 2nd November at Telford with a 7.45pm kick
off.
Match report by Dave Nickless WSFA
Welsh Schools Football Association
