England 2-1 Northern Ireland

UEFA European U19 Championship
Elite Qualifying Round
AFC Tubize, Belgium
5pm 20 May 2006,
For the full match schedule click here


England Under-19s kept their dreams of qualifying for the European Championships alive with a brave performance leading to a spectacular last-gasp win with Gary Roberts scoring the crucial goal two minutes from time.

Speaking to TheFA.com after the game, Martin Hunter was much happier with both the performance and the result. He said: "It was a much better performance and a fully deserved win, there are a lot of positives for us now and it is a much better situation than it was on Thursday evening.

"We started strongly and got the goal we deserved and to be honest there was a period in the first 15 minutes of the second half when we should have killed the game off. We had three or four chances but didn't take them.

"Obviously they came into the game and got the goal but we finished the game very well and the lads are delighted.

"After the disappointment of Thursday's game and the way they bounced back tonight, they now know they can go on and do something out here.

"The other game finishing as a draw is also a good result for us, it is back in our hands now. But we know that we must beat Serbia and Montenegro on Monday."

The first goal was a flowing attacking move to admire, but the goal will ultimately be remembered for a goalkeeping error that allowed Derby County's Lee Holmes to profit with yet another goal for Martin Hunter's side.

Adam Johnson fed Billy Jones with a cleverly disguised pass that gave the full-back space to cross the ball from the left-flank. The dangerous ball in was misjudged by the Northern Ireland keeper and the fumble was seized upon by Holmes to give England first blood in the contest.

The victory appeared to have been snatched from the Young Lions when Ryan Catney levelled the scores with just 12 minutes remaining. Though disappointed to lose a late goal, the heads did not drop and England forced their way forward looking for the crucial winner.

A draw in this game could have seen England unable to qualify depending on how the match ended, but that possibility was dramatically wiped out by Roberts with just minutes to spare.

From a long kick upfield by goalkeeper Joe Hart, Joe Garner was first to the ball and flicked it on to Lee Holmes who played Roberts through on goal. Showing a cool head at a vital moment he hit a superb dipping volley over the onrushing goalkeeper to clinch victory for the Young Lions.

England Team: Joe Hart (Shrewsbury Town), Billy Jones (c) (Crewe Alexandra), Ben Parker (Leeds United), Matthew Connolly (Arsenal), Micah Richards (Manchester City) (Nathan Ashton (Charlton) 30), Gary Roberts (Crewe Alexandra), Mark Davies (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough), Jimmy Smith (Chelsea) Lee Holmes (Derby County) (Nathan Dyer (Southampton) 91), Moses Ashikodi (Rangers) (Joe Garner (Blackburn Rovers) 70)

England Goals: Holmes 40, Roberts 88

Northern Ireland Goals: Ryan Catney 78