Football: Scottish initiative rewarded

England Schools Under-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Scotland Schools Under-15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

THE 97th Under-15 schoolboys' international between England and Scotland kicked off five minutes late and effectively ended 10 minutes early when Scotland's influential captain, Christopher Pollock, coolly struck a penalty beyond James Dungey. The penalty decision was dubious but it gave Scotland the advantage their attacking initiative had earned.

The Scots smothered the potential flair of England's wide midfield players and it was only adventurous running and a deft pass from full- back David Hilton which prised open the Scottish back line to present Jamie Cassidy with England's goal in the 17th minute.

Just after half-time Paul McShane's low drive was beaten out by Dungey only for Andrew O'Brien to sidefoot the simplest of equalisers.

Ian Harty was bundled over for the winning penalty and, at the end, Scottish celebrations may have been excessive but Scottish wins at Wembley are rare and, if you are 15 years old, very special.

ENGLAND SCHOOLS UNDER-15: J Dungey (Plymouth); A Futcher (Herts), D Hilton (Barnsley), M Millett (Wigan), J Curtis (Nuneaton and Dist), M Broomes (Erdington and Saltley), S Clemence (Lea Valley), L Hodges (Newham), A Fotiadis (N Herts), E Omoyinmi (Newham), J Cassidy (Liverpool). Substitutes: J Wynter (Islington and Camden) for Clemence, 50; A Ducros (Redditch) for Fotiadis, 72. Substitutes not used: A Duncan (Gateshead and Blaydon), J Kyte (N Kent), R Wright (Ipswich and South Suffolk).

SCOTLAND SCHOOLS UNDER-15: A McCondichie (Glasgow); S Canning (Lanarkshire), I McDonald (Edinburgh), C Pollock (Ayrshire), R Horn (Edinburgh), K Gaughan (Dumbarton East), J MacDonald (North of Scotland), M Mullen (Glasgow), A O'Brien (Lanarkshire), I Harty (Lanarkshire), P McShane (Glasgow). Substitutes: P Rice (Glasgow) for Mullen, 75. Substitutes not used: C Smith (W Lothian), J Lamb (Lanarkshire), G Brebner (Midlothian East), M Craig (Aberdeen).

Referee: D Lowes (Durham).