JUNIOR CELTIC CUP - U21 MEN
Edinburgh (SCO), 27th - 29th June 2008
Day 1: Friday 27th June 2008
| 13:00 | Ireland | 1 | France | 1 |
| 17:00 | Scotland | 3 | Wales | 0 |
Wales were given a dose of reality after suffering a disappointing 3-0 loss in their opening game against Scotland's men. Good preparation and promising performances in training games and the GBSL in the lead up to the tournament counted for little, as the side got off to a sluggish start. They were half a yard off the pace in most positions, slow to move the ball on and to close down their opponents. The Scots who had several full internationals in their team were quick to capitalise on the time and space that they were afforded.
From the whistle the Scotsmen looked composed, passing the ball comfortably around the back four and in to their midfield players. Within two minutes it was Kenny Bain that put Scotland's first goal on the board. Some quick movement and a deflected pass in the circle found the Scottish forward free at the far post. Michael Christie was next to take a shot from just outside the D with the Welsh defence deflecting the ball wide.
The Scottish midfield kept their team on the front foot and forced Wales to defend deep around the 23m line. Although there was some good tackling and team defence, Wales were unable to clear the lines for long or retain possession higher up the pitch. Ed Jones in goal was outstanding and made several one on one saves to keep his side in the game. However possession and pressure began to tell. A good cross-field aerial pass from caught out the Welsh, as they looked to keep the ball carrier in a wide channel which Adams netted in the twenty first minute in a clinical manner. Nine minutes later Scotland's scored a third goal from a penalty corner to enter half-time at 3-0.
After the break, Wales played some good hockey. Coaches Zak Jones and Brian Hibbert made it clear that the Scottish players were to be denied space and their first touch was to be put under greater pressure. Scotland were unable to settle into their first half rhythm and lost their structure a little. Wales played with passion and were more combative in midfield. This gave their forwards more ball and the chance to run at the Scottish defence. A collision between Chris Grassick and Luke Carless saw both players receive yellow cards in the 57th minute. Then Scotland's Gordon McIntyre got his own yellow card in the 61st minute taking the Scots down to nine men. During this spell Wales were on top and had more possession and circle entries than their opponents. However they were unable to convert open play chances or earn enough penalty corners to turn pressure into goals. The second half remained goalless.
The second half restored some pride and belief in the Welsh players. Although they had left themselves too much to do, they learned that they were good enough to compete with the Scots and that their game plan was effective. However they need to earn the right to play and to start more quickly in matches if they wanted to beat quality opponents.
Day 2: Saturday 28th June 2008
| 12:00 | Wales | 1 | Ireland | 2 |
| 16:00 | Scotland | 5 | France | 1 |
Wales started the match positively and put the Irish under some early pressure for the opening quarter of the match. They moved the ball with purpose attempting to stretch the Irish defence through crisp passing and taking early free-hits. This early possession threatened the Irish circle but forward Nick Rees was the only man able to test the goalkeeper. The Irish back four were denied clear passing channels forward and turn-overs were generated as the Irish were denied the opportunity to settle.
Gradually the Irish regained their composure and started to counter-attack off mis-placed passes which forced goalkeeper David Kettle into the action. The Irish midfield began to find a little more space and their high forwards began to make good runs into wide channels to stretch the Welsh defence. They played the two on one situations well and began to make circle entries with more regularity. After the initial ten minute spell, the rest of the half belonged to Ireland. They scored their first goal midway through the half, through striker Alan Southern with a sharp shot from the top of the circle. He had been denied only minutes earlier by brave goalkeeping from Kettle who had slid in to smother his close range shot wide of the post. The defence which was well marshaled by James Hughes managed to hold out to half-time with only a one goal deficit. Although the tactic of using overheads to clear the ball from defence proved efficient, double turn-overs were proving costly and poor ball retention higher up the field prevented the Welsh from breaking free from the shackles of Irish pressure.
In the second half Wales managed to limit the Irish threat down the flanks by employing an extra midfield player with reasonable success. There was an improvement in passing and Mark Siddorn and Luke Carless in the heart of the midfield worked hard to prevent opponents turning on the ball and forced the Irish to distribute from deep in their half. Owain Dolan-Gray made some telling runs behind the Irish defenders, and the hard running of James Astley and Dan Berry made life harder by denying passes and pressuring their first touch. However it was the Irish who extended their lead with a well taken goal ten minutes into the second half.
Wales responded well by raising their game and they succeeded in rattling the Irish who began to misplace passes and lose their composure. Dan Berry scored in open play with a crisp strike from the top of the circle. Frustration saw the Irish lose one player for dissent and this was soon compounded by losing a second player after a heavy tackle by the Irish half-back ended a strong run by Nick Rees. With ten minutes to play and a 2 man advantage the pendulum had started to swing back into Wales' favour. They began to look dangerous with each attack and the Irish understandably defended deep and looked to play on the counter-attack. Nils Lloyd- Penney then received a yellow card himself which reduced the advantage to ten against nine. The game finished in a frenzy with chances falling at both ends. Wales secured two penalty corners in the last five minutes, the last being in overtime. Unfortunately their routine broke down which prevented them from testing the goalkeeper and saw the game end in a 1-2 defeat. Although the Irish had played the better hockey for much of the game, robust defending and commitment gave the Welsh the chance to be within touching distance of snatching a result at the final whistle. Coaches Matt Ruxton and Brian Hibbert were satisfied with the attitude and effort of the players, although they targeted penalty corner routines and maximising chances in the opponent's circle as areas to work on in the game against France.
Day 3: Sunday 29th June 2008
| 12:00 | France | 5 | Wales | 1 |
| 16:00 | Scotland | 3 | Ireland | 3 |
Wales started very well and passed the ball with purpose. The French were denied time to settle on the ball and turn-overs enabled Wales to impose their structure on the game. The early chances were created by the Welsh and forward Dan Berry opened the scoring five minutes into the half which was a just reward for the endeavour and purpose that the side was showing.
France were forced to raise their game and after a sluggish start they began to maintain possession and probe the Welsh half. Their attacks were channelled into wide areas and their pressure only really threatened with free-hits from outside the circle. Wales looked organised and composed in defence. After a promising fifteen minute spell, the balance of power shifted after France were awarded a short corner for what was deemed a deliberate foot outside the circle. Frenchman Fabien Magner stepped up to equalise drilling a shot into the back of the net from a penalty corner in the seventeenth minute. Wales then went down to ten men after forward James Astley was yellow carded after sliding in to close down a pass and commiting a stick tackle in the process. The initiative shifted to France and they enjoyed greater spells of possession. They ended the half strongly with with another chance off a penalty corner when Victor Condemine stole the ball back off a Welsh defender. The penalty corner shot went wide to end first half with a one all score.
France began the second half strongly and seemingly caught Wales off-guard. There was an early shot straight after the break which Welsh goalkeeper Edward Jones quickly deflected over the goal. A few moments later the French earned a penalty corner and a well worked routine saw the ball slipped to a castle to the right of the penalty spot, from where the ball was flicked powerfully past the keeper to take France ahead 2-1. Two minutes later Fabien Magner netted his second goal of the match with a drag flick shot fired right past the keeper.
Wales were stirred back into action. Midfielder Mark Siddorn attempted to strike back but missed a good opportunity right in front of the French goal. France were forced back and a spell of possession and good team earned a penalty corner. The ball was slipped to Nils Lloyd-Penny who was unable narrowly got his angles wrong to shoot the wrong side of the post. Moments later, a deflected effort by Dan Berry was goal bound but struck his own player Owain Dolan-Gray in the neck who diving in to get to the far post. France rode their luck and kept a two goal cushion. Wales went a man down again for a technical infringement. Frenchman Oliver Sanchez then pulled out a reverse shot taking the score to 4-1 for France. Wales saw a few more chances pass by including another shot from Dan Berry and an open play attempt from Nick Rees but neither could convert. In the last ten seconds Frenchman Aymeric Bergamo netted France's final fifth goal to secure a third place finish at the Junior Celtic Cup.
Coach Brian Hibbert concluded: "This has been a very useful platform tournament to prepare for the Europeans in three weeks. The challenge is to build up our confidence up and to take advantage of more chances. We have played quite well in three of the six halves in Edinburgh, but need to retain possession better to be more consistent".
Final Positions
1st: Scotland
2nd: Ireland
3rd: France
4th: Wales
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