England 1-0 Scotland

Under-18s Friendly International
Victoria Park, Hartlepool
22 December 2004

Middlesbrough's David Wheater enhanced his growing reputation as a goalscoring centre-back in front of an enthusiastic near-5,000 crowd in festive mood at Hartlepool United's Victoria Park.

Wheater, who netted three times in eight games during Boro's FA Youth Cup-winning campaign last season, gave Dick Bate a victorious launch to his reign as England Under-18s' head coach.

It was a memorable night for Middlesbrough-born Wheater.

He demonstrated calm authority throughout the game and was handed the captain's armband for the second half after skipper Mark Noble, whose verve and ingenuity were a notable feature of the opening period, failed to reappear.

Appropriately, there was a strong North-East flavour in Bate's maiden selection, with Sunderland's Ben Alnwick in goal and Wheater and Newcastle's Paul Huntington forming a solid central defensive partnership.

Bate had anticipated a rigorous work-out against Ross Mathie's Scotland side, and he wasn't disappointed. Scotland captain Scott Cuthbert was booked by referee Graham Laws for a hefty challenge on Fulham midfielder Chris James, who required treatment.

And that was the prelude to the goal. England then forced a corner on the left and from Shane Paul's inswinger, Wheater rose above the defence to guide his near-post header into the far corner of the net.

Manchester United midfielder Lee Martin (left) could count himself fortunate not to receive a yellow card from Mr Laws for a reckless tackle on James McCluskey, the referee deciding a stiff lecture would suffice.

If Martin was combative on that occasion, he was composed soon afterwards when he coolly sized up a shooting opportunity to unleash a fierce drive which flew narrowly wide.

As the influential Noble pulled the strings in midfield, it was easy to see why he has already tasted first-team football with West Ham, and he might have opened the scoring himself when he lifted a shot over from a promising position.

But his half-time exit ensured Wheater continued to take centre stage. Derby County's Lionel Ainsworth, who took over from Noble, made an immediate impact on proceedings when he brought a fine save from Scotland's substitute keeper Andrew McNeil, an interval replacement for Callum Reidford.

The danger wasn't over, however, and the Scots should have found themselves 2-0 down as the loose ball broke to James, but he skewed his follow-up wide of the near upright.

While Scotland showed plenty of energy and endeavour, they were singularly lacking a cutting edge and it was always England who looked like adding to the scoring.

Leicester's Levi Porter, who had replaced James, conjured a stunning, dipping effort that dropped just wide of McNeil's right-hand post.

Scotland were quickly alive to the threat posed by the pacey Porter, and Charles Grant took matters into his own hands with a crude challenge which earned the Celtic player a caution.

But nothing could detract from England's success in this keenly-contested friendly international.

Team Details

England: Ben Alnwick - Sunderland, Nathan Doyle - Derby County, Nathan Ashton - Charlton Athletic, Mark Noble - West Ham United (Lionel Ainsworth - Derby County, 46), David Wheater - Middlesbrough, Paul Huntington - Newcastle United, Shane Paul - Aston Villa (Gary Roberts - Crewe Alexandra, 46), Lee Martin - Manchester United (Paul Green - Aston Villa, 84), Fraizer Campbell - Manchester United (James Walker - Charlton Athletic, 79), Chris James - Fulham (Levi Porter - Leicester City, 67), Kyel Reid - West Ham United.
Subs not used: Lewis, Parker.

Goals: Wheater 27

Scotland: Reidford (McNeil, 46), Thomson, Boyle, Kane, Cuthbert, Hodge (Elliot, 82), McCluskey (Gilmour, 64) Grant, Fletcher, McGlinchey (Agnew, 73), Snodgrass (Smith, 46).

Referee: Graham Laws (Whitley Bay).

Attendance: 4,959.