U-16 Girls v Scotland
13th-16th June 2008
Match 1: 13th June
Wales 1, Scotland 4
Wales started their first full competitive match of the season strongly and were awarded a penalty corner after only five minutes having had some early pressure. No goal was scored and the Scots girls came back at Wales coming close to opening the scoring themselves. Wales continued to press resulting in another penalty corner from which Hannah Vowles scored after a subtle pass from the top of the D by Lucy Thayer to go 1-0 ahead. The Scots then began to test the Wales defence more with keeper Roseanne Thomas being called into action a couple of times in quick succession. An interruption to play for a temporary injury to a Welsh defender after thirty minutes of the half led to a lapse in concentration and when the Scots hit the ball into the D from a free hit it was deflected into the goal. The score remained 1-1 at half time though both teams came close with the Wales goal keeper making an impressive save high to her left to keep the Scots out and Wales narrowly missing converting a penalty corner. There were no clear chances for Wales in the first ten minutes of the second half though they started the half brightly. The Scots were more switched on than in the first half and went 2-1 up with the Welsh keeper given no chance as the attackers passed the ball around her. The Scots continued their strong start to the half and went 3-1 ahead after twenty five minutes from a penalty corner. Inside the last ten minutes Wales were attacking and working hard to get back on terms. They were awarded two penalty corners but failed to take advantage and score. The final score was 4-1 though as the Scots put another penalty corner away in what was the last action of the match.
Match 2: 14th June
Wales 0, Scotland 2
Having lost the previous evening Wales were determined to prove themselves in this match. Unfortunately they got off to a bad start going 1-0 down after only seven minutes. After this Wales picked themselves up and immediately won a penalty corner where they had a shot on target which the Scots kept out. Wales settled down and dominated the next fifteen minutes with some calm, organised play. One fast break from the back and a skilful pickup in the front line by Rhiannon Rogers very nearly resulted in an equaliser. Wales did not have things all their own way though and the Scots did force a save from the Welsh keeper but the score remained at 1-0 to the Scots at half time. The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with the Scots scoring after only two minutes as Wales switched off briefly after the break. With thirty three minutes still to go though Wales were far from out of the running. They created several chances in open play with a notable strong run from Rhiannon Rogers. Wales had two penalty corners during the second of which Faye Webber had a shot from the left but still Wales were not able to convert pressure into goals. Scotland had other opportunities too but stout Welsh defences meant the score remained 2-0 to Scotland at full time.
Match 3: 15th June
Wales 0, Scotland 1
The final match in the three test series was a much tighter affair with Wales reaping the benefit of having two full matches under their belt and putting in an accomplished team performance. Wales started confidently and built on that platform with some sustained periods of possession and patient build up throughout the first half. One strong run from Xenna Hughes and pass onto Leah Richardson nearly unlocked the Scottish defence mid way into the half. The Scots had their moments and in fact hit the post from a penalty corner with five minutes of the half remaining leaving the score at 0-0 at half time. Wales began the second half strongly keeping good possession and playing in the Scots half for most of the first ten minutes. The play ebbed and flowed with both sides contributing fairly evenly and creating some half chances. With only seven minutes left the Scots pressed hard for a three minute period which resulted in a Scots goal. Wales were galvanised into even more effort in the final minutes and succeeded in winning three penalty corners one after another. The final action of the match was a shot from the third penalty corner that only missed the Scots left hand post by the slimmest of margins. The final result was a narrow Scottish victory by 1-0.
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