England 0 – 1 Northern Ireland
Darren McCauley (80)
The Northern Ireland Schools Under 18 team got their challenge for the Carnegie Centenary Shield back on track with a 1-0 win over England at Macclesfield:
Aaron McElwee, who missed the 2/0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland through injury, soon made his presence felt as he worked industriously in midfield with the visitors taking control in the early stages: Northern Ireland had claims for a penalty turned down in the eleventh minute when Liam Boyce was sent tumbling in the penalty area:
England went lose after 12 minutes when Joe Villiers saw his shot cleared off the line by Craig Hill: Boyce and Gavin McParland combined well to create a chance for Boyce but the striker’s low right foot shot across goal went inches past the post:
McElwee and McParland were also just off target as Northern Ireland continued to dominate:
Five minutes before the break Boyce saw his header trickle across goal but no one was on hand to apply the finishing touch:
After the interval Northern Ireland continued to dictate the play: On 77 minutes neat interpassing between Stephen Dooley and Mark Haughey created an opening for McElwee whose shot was blocked on the line: One minute later McElwee fired a left foot shot from 22 yards which dipped just over the bar:
With 10 minutes remaining Northern Ireland Captain Darren McCauley finally broke the deadlock: Boyce and McElwee split open the home defence and when McElwee found McCauley with a cross from the left the tall midfielder buried his shot into the corner of the net from 10 yards: