England 2-0 Scotland

Group 6, European Under-17s Championship Qualifier
Sunday 16th March 2003, 4pm
Prenton Park, Tranmere Rovers FC

Second half strikes from Mark Noble and Aaron Lennon earned England's Under- 17s a 2-0 win over the Auld Enemy and booked John Peacock's boys a place in May's European Championship Finals in Portugal

England Under-17s sealed a place in the European Championship finals with a well-earned victory over neighbours Scotland at Tranmere Rovers this afternoon.

Two points clear at the top of Group 6 going into their final game, John Peacock's Young Lions knew that they only required a draw against their nearest rivals, until second-half strikes from Mark Noble and Aaron Lennon confirmed their superiority and a place in Portugal in May.

England were relaxed at the start as they probed for an opening without giving anything away themselves early on. Luke Moore and Lee Holmes getting the better of both Scottish full-backs in the early exchanges, but couldn't find the final pass to capitalise, and it was Scotland who had the first good chance on nine minutes.

A free-kick deep on the left, following Grant Leadbitter's sweeping challenge, was swung in by Martin Woods. Charles MulGrew rose to meet the ball as it entered the England box, but his glancing header was not enough to concern Thomas Heaton.

Four minutes later Steven Taylor had a similar chance for England, but his header from Leadbitter's deep cross lacked power and direction. England's only other first-half opportunities fell to Jarvis and Moore, and while the Norwich City striker hit his wide from Moore's knock-down, the Villa man was denied by Euan McLean in the Scottish goal.

However, if the home side thought it was going to be a walk in Prenton Park against the Scots who only managed a 0-0 draw with England's last opponents Slovakia, they were very much mistaken. Both impish wingers, Michael Gardyne and Darren Campbell looked to use their speed and skill to beat England's physical might, while from the front Scotland worked well to close England down restricting them to shots from distance - Leadbitter and Mark Noble both striking from outside the box but failed to work McLean.

Likewise at the other end England were not giving the Scotland forwards much change. A Martin Woods volley straight at Heaton from 18 yards and his free-kick that hit the wall looked like being the best of the chances of the first 40 minutes - that was until, with two minutes left, Gardyne sent a superb shot from wide on the left sailing towards Heaton's top corner, but the Manchester United stopper was having none of it and leapt well to claw away from goal, and deserved his team mates' applause.

John Peacock must have said something good at half-time as within moments of the re-start Noble had put them ahead. Leadbitter's corner from the left was only half cleared to the West Ham midfielder on the edge of the box, and he arrowed his shot through the crowd and into the Scottish net.

England were now well in control of their destiny but Scotland didn't like it and were right back at Peacock's young lions. Philip Ifil and Steven Taylor both failed to clear Gardyne's centre and the tricky Campbell collected inside the box, before the skipper made up for his misjudgement and snuffed out the Reading winger's run.

Scotland should then have pulled level. Robert Davidson powerful run had the better of Taylor and Martin Cranie, but Ifil was across to clear for a corner. Sean McDaid whipped in from the right-hand side towards Mulgrew who jumped unchallenged, but his header was again off target, but this time by the skin of England's teeth.

Gardyne then had another effort, cutting in from the left, this one followed Mulgrew's earlier header over the bar and from that moment, Scotland seemed to be spent. With twenty minutes left, England gained full control and created three excellent chances - with the third sealing the win.

First, Nathan Doyle fed Jarvis inside the box, the young Canary side-stepped Celtic's Craig Reid, but prodded his shot just wide of the post. Then Derby winger Lee Holmes had his final input into the game on 69 minutes. Beating Graeme Watson on the left, he delivered a fine ball across the face of goal to fellow Ram Doyle at the back who hooked in for Moore, but his header lacked power and rolled wide.

Aaron Lennon then came on for Holmes, and with an almost carbon-copy run down the left, the Leeds United forward beat Watson and opted for a near post ball which fooled McLean with a slight deflection and bounced off the Sunderland keeper and in for two-nil.

A mild fracas in the middle of the field a minute later between the teenage Auld Enemy, excited a young crowd into their playground chants of 'fight, fight, fight!', but all of the players saw sense - with the help of captain Steven Taylor - and the gathering dispersed.

John Peacock will be pleased with his boys' performances over these three games scoring nine goals without reply, and the players will be delighted with what is in store for them in May. Though it was nice and sunny on the Wirral today, it'll have the heat to go with it in Portugal.

Jamie Bradbury at Prenton Park

Teams

England
Thomas Heaton, Philip Ifil, Mark Noble, Steven Taylor (c), Martin Cranie, Nathan Doyle, Luke Moore, Grant Leadbitter, Lee Holmes (Lennon, 70), Andrew Taylor, Ryan Jarvis (Morrison, 65),
Subs: David Martin, Stuart Giddings, James Morrison, Jamie O'Hara, Aaron Lennon, Anthony McMahon, Jonathan Forte.

Goals: Mark Noble 42, Aaron Lennon 78

Scotland
Euan McLean, Graeme Watson, Sean McDaid, Steven Campbell, Craig Reid, Charles Mulgrew, Darren Campbell, Robert Davidson, Martin Woods, Michael Gardyne, Kevin McKinlay (McCormack, 61).
Subs: Darren Johnson, Stuart Anderson, Ross McCormack, Rocco Quinn, Craig Sives, Andrew Dick, James Reilly.