England 0-0 Norway

International Friendly
Vale Park, Port Vale FC
10 May 2005

England U18s drew 0-0 with their Norwegian counterparts after a disappointing match at Vale Park.

A large crowd were in the stadium, home to Port Vale, to see the U18s in only their second match of the season but they were as frustrated as the players as neither side created enough opportunities to break the deadlock.

The first half saw England dominate possession, with much of the play taking place in the Norwegian half. Unfortunately for England, Norwegian 'keeper Erik Bråthen was equal to anything that the Three Lions' front men could throw at him.

James Walker and Kyel Reid had chances but the closest that Bate's side had to breaking the deadlock came from a mistake from a Norwegian defender.

A melee in the penalty area saw the ball take a wicked deflection off one of the opposition players, which went narrowly wide.

In the second half a similar pattern emerged, with England dictating the tempo of the match but still finding it difficult to beat Bråthen.

Southampton winger Nathan Dyer showed the kind of pace that took the saints all the way to The FA Youth Cup Final this season and he laid on decent chances for Walker and Arsenal's Kerrea Gilbert.

Again though, the little bit of quality in the final third was missing and England had to make to with a goalless draw.

England 0-0 Norway, International Friendly, 10 June 2005

England: Ben Alnwick - Sunderland (Joe Lewis - Norwich City), Ben Parker - Leeds United, Sean Rudd - Southampton (Paul Denvers - Bradford City), James Smith - Chelsea, Tom Clarke - Huddersfield Town (Paul Huntingdon - Newcastle United), Kerrea Gilbert - Arsenal, Gary Roberts - Crewe Alexandra (capt), Nathan Doyle - Derby County, Nathan Dyer - Southampton (Marc Walton - Newcastle United), James Walker - Charlton Athletic (Moses Ashikodi - West Ham United), Kyel Reid - West Ham United (Chris James - Fulham)
Subs not used: Nathan Ashton - Charlton Athletic