McQuade blasts Scotland boys to victory over Wales

Scotland U18 huddle v WalesAidan McQuade scored a dramatic late winner to give Scotland boys a 3-2 win over Wales, and put the Scots through to the semi-finals.

Scotland looked in the mood from the start – belting out Flower of Scotland without music towards the stand. They got the game underway and looked content with keeping possession in their own half. It was Wales however who threatened first through a scramble in the Scottish D, but it came to nothing with sticks clashing.

It was a very tight game in the early stages with no clear opportunities for either side. Tom Wood of Wales had the best chance in the opening skirmishes but couldn’t connect his stick to the ball in the Scotland D. Then Wales opened the scoring. A penalty corner was fired into the D and then slotted through for Wood diving at the far post to score. 1-0.

Not long later Scotland had the ball in the net in retaliation but it was chopped off for a foul. Then some excellent skill by Callum MacKenzie won a penalty corner for Scotland but the resulting Aidan McQuade shot was well saved.

Moments later saw the award of another penalty corner for Scotland. McQuade was again denied by another exceptional save by the Welsh keeper.

McQuade wouldn’t be denied from a penalty corner for long and it was he who smashed the ball low into the net to make it 1-1.

The goal settled Scotland down and they looked the better attacking force as the half progressed. Wales held strong however and the half finished with an even score line.

Aidan McQuade v Wales

Half Time: Wales boys 1 Scotland boys 1

 

Straight after the break Scotland’s Mackenzie was denied in the D after some exceptional build up play. Just as they did in the previous game, Scotland started the second half well. Their play was faster, more precise, and the Scots looked far more in control.

It didn’t take long before Scotland took the lead. Dean Baber scored when he knocked the ball home from a rebound off the keeper’s legs following a penalty corner. 2-1

Immediately, Wood missed a great chance for Wales to level the score. The ball zipped into the D from the left but it spun off his stick over the Scotland goal and wide.

Scotland were piling on the pressure. Andrew Webb was denied from a penalty corner by another diving save by the Welsh keeper.

Mackenzie was having a great game for Scotland; full of running and was a constant menace to Wales. It was some exceptional running by Mackenzie into the Welsh D that won another penalty corner, which saw Webb denied again by a good save by the keeper’s feet.

Alan Johnston was then denied by the keeper’s head, and a following infringement gave Scotland yet another penalty corner. This time it led to a scramble with McQuade and Owen Jenkins-Garcia both denied from the penalty corner.

Scotland were in complete control and then Wales hit them with a sucker punch. From a penalty corner Ioan Wall equalised for Wales, smashing the ball into the bottom left corner. 2-2.

With the clock ticking down there was a determination about the Scots as they piled forward. They came close with just under five minutes to go but the ball was cleared just under the bar.

Scotland continued pressing and won a penalty corner with 53 seconds on the clock. It looked certain to be the last chance of the game and McQuade, who threatened all night from penalty corners, smashed the ball into the net giving Scotland a dramatic late victory.

The win puts Scotland boys through into the semi-finals with one group game remaining against Ukraine on Wednesday.

 

Full Time: Wales boys 2 Scotland boys 3

 

 

 

Recent posts:

Back to all news
Back to top