UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship Qualifiers
Northern Ireland 1 - 4 Scotland
Monday, 14 October 2019
Oriam, Currie

Scotland made a flying start to their European Women’s Under-17 qualifying campaign with a 4-1 win over Northern Ireland in their opening fixture.

The young Scots wasted no time getting started and challenged the Northern Irish keeper within the first minute of the match. Freya Macdonald sent a ball into the box which was headed into the hands of Rachael Norney by Eva Thomson.

It did not take long, however, for Pauline Macdonald’s side to open the scoring. Just three minutes in, Monica Forsyth sent a corner into the centre of the box which Paige McAllister headed over Norney and into the net.

Scotland added another just ten minutes later when the ball fell to the feet of Robyn McCafferty in the box following a corner. The captain guided the ball into the net to double her side's advantage.

The Scots’ third came 23 minutes in after Forsyth picked up a loose pass from Grainne O’Casey in Northern Ireland’s half. Forsyth slipped the ball through to Rosie McQuillan who slotted it past substitute Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jenna Corry.

Forsyth and McQuillan teamed up again to get Scotland’s fourth goal just three minutes later as MacDonald's youngsters stormed in to a dominant first half lead.

The pair weaved the ball through the Northern Irish defence before Forsyth set McQuillan up for her second of the match.

McQuillan had another effort saved soon after. Tegan Bowie went striding up the park before slotting a pass through to the striker whose narrow effort was tipped over the bar by Corry. Hungry for her third, Rosie again forced Corry into a diving save just before half time.

A livelier Northern Ireland side emerged after the break having been successfully held by a dominant Scotland for most of the first half.

They looked to be on a promising attack early in the second half when substitute Cara Mervyn worked the ball into the path of Cora Chambers, but it was quickly chased out by Scotland’s Freya Macdonald.

Haughey later managed to get a shot away despite good pressure from Tegan Bowie on the right wing, but the ball went wide of the Scotland net. Rose Zubier had another go for Northern Ireland shortly after, but her attempt was easily collected by Scotland’s Alicia Yates.

Northern Ireland finally got off the mark in the 72nd minute thanks to an impressive strike from Cora Morgan. The midfielder sent the ball flying over the head of Yates from 25 yards out.

Rebecca McAllister almost added another for Scotland just minutes later, but her long range effort soared over the crossbar.

Eva Thomson got a powerful shot away in the 84th minute, but Corry produced a strong save to keep the scoreline down.
Scotland secured the three points putting them in a good position ahead of their next two qualifiers against Montenegro and Italy later this month.

Northern Ireland: Norney (Corry 16’) , Glancy (Mervyn 46’), Haughey, F Morgan ©, Davis (Mcgreevey 46’), O’Neill, O’Casey, Chambers (Gelston Mulholland 82’), C Morgan, Zubier (E Dickson 69’), Bell
Subs not used: Redmond, Neal, K Dickson, Turnelty

Scotland: Yates, Macdonald (Penman 73’), Bowie, McCafferty © Broadrick 82’), Nicolson (Guthrie 69’), Forsyth (Reid 82’), R McAllister, McQuillan (Adams 69’), Hutchison, P McAllister, Thomson
Subs not used: Johnstone, Handley, Sinclair, O’Brien,