National cup

National Stadium
Spectators: 1028 (Terracing: 772, Seating: 236, VIP seats: 20) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Walter McOwen started the match with the kick off. U21 Scotland's Jamie Duncan got a good chance for a goal in the 9th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Johnnie Birchall in the 10th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Derek Gregory prevented the ball from getting in the gole. A collision led to U21 Scotland getting a freekick after 12 minutes play. Daniel Tarrill hit a great ball. Derek Gregory showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Johnnie Birchall, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. Derek Gregory showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Johnnie Birchall in the 17th minute of the match. If Vince Baker had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lucas Masterson hit a great freekick 19 minutes into the match. In the 20th minute, Johnnie Birchall got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Ivan Lean's late challenge caught a U21 England's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ivan Lean helped the player get up and apologised. Ivan Lean kicked well hit freekick during the 21st minute of the match. Derek Gregory showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Vince Baker in the 24th minute of the match. After a rather tough play, U21 Scotland's Joe Cobb got a free kick in the 26th minute. Johnnie Birchall's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Derek Gregory read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 29th minute of play. After 30 played minutes U21 England got a freekick which was hit by Les McMahon. Crispin Carr made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joe Cobb in the 34th minute of play. Thanks to some nice moves Neil McGruder could shoot a difficult shot in the 37th minute, which Crispin Carr however easily saved by the left post. U21 Scotland's Derek Gregory played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Vince Baker in the 38th minute of play. With his leg Crispin Carr managed to avoid a goal in the 44thth minute, when U21 Scotland's Walter McOwen fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Neil McGruder kicked well hit freekick during the 46th minute of the match. In the 47th minute Peter Tubbs shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Derek Gregory saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Johnnie Birchall was the one to do the kick off. After 54 minutes, Joe Cobb mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the U21 Scotland and the U21 England players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of U21 England booed when U21 Scotland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 54 match minutes in a wonderful position. Joe Cobb didn't get a good kick on the ball. U21 England's Barrie Gill was substituted for Liam Connell. An unexpectedly hard shot by Johnnie Birchall in the 66th minute of play forced U21 Scotland's goalkeeper Derek Gregory to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. U21 England's Kev Beaver was substituted for Peter Tubbs. With his leg Derek Gregory managed to avoid a goal in the 72ndth minute, when U21 England's Jo Beale fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. 74 minutes into the match, Johnnie Birchall notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of U21 Scotland's Derek Gregory. Derek Gregory was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. U21 Scotland's Edmond McAdam was substituted for Neil McGruder. U21 Scotland made a substitution. Phillip Abbie replaced Jamie Duncan. Derek Gregory showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Austen Turner in the 79th minute of the match. 85 minutes into the match, U21 Scotland's goal looked a bit too open when Austen Turner came free, but Derek Gregory reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 88 played minutes U21 England got a freekick which was hit by Jo Beale. An unexpectedly hard shot by Joe Cobb in the 91st minute of play forced U21 England's goalkeeper Crispin Carr to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Derek Gregory showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Austen Turner, who was totally free with the ball in the 92nd minute. The U21 England supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing U21 England would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.