YFS
Scotland Under-16s hopes of retaining the Victory Shield were dealt a blow with a 2-1 defeat at St Mirren Park on Friday evening.
Liam McKenna and Jack White gave the visitors a 2-0 lead, but Jack Aitchison’s late goal wasn’t enough to snatch a point.
Having won the Victory Shield for the first time in fifteen years last time around, Scotland were looking to open their defence with a win but had to avoid a scare within the opening two minutes of the match.
A ball in from Cormac Lawlor on the right found it’s way to Stephen Mallon, and only a fine stop from Scotland goalkeeper Aidan McAdams prevented Scotland from conceding in the early stages.
Scotland skipper Jack Adamson’s bursting run saw the Hibs striker run at the heart of the Northern Irish defence, beating three men in the process in what was Scotland’s most prominent attack of the first half.
Midway through the first half, Scotland had the opportunity to draw level. A corner from the right dropped at the feet of Owen Gallacher, but his stabbed shot was scrambled clear by the Northern Irish defence.
Two minutes later, Gallacher turned Lucas Galashan and lashed his shot into the side netting, with the majority of the 572 inside St Mirren Park thinking he had scored.
On the half hour mark, Rangers’ Liam Burt spotted Northern Ireland goalkeeper Conor Larkin off his line and tried his luck from range, but his audacious effort dropped narrowly wide of the post.
The visitors then did take the lead on thirty six minutes. Stephen Mallon curled a left footed free kick to the far post and Liam McKenna was on hand to fire a header past Aidan McAdams.
Northern Ireland continued to press Scotland and went into half time with a deserving 1-0 lead.