FRIENDLY MATCH: ORKNEY 16s 1-3 SHETLAND 16s
Orkney’s 16s squad travelled to Lerwick last week looking to restore some pride following a heavy defeat in Kirkwall in June. There cause wasn’t aided by a lack of commitment shown by some of the previous squad members, with one declaring himself unfit to travel, yet managed to play 90 minutes for his club in a senior cup match the night before the 16s game! The fourteen boys who headed north did however put in a performance that made their coaches proud and would have embarrassed the ‘no-show’ players whose commitment to representing their county must be questioned.
Orkney started the game in determined fashion against a very confident Shetland side and F.Allan and Low put in a couple of superb tackles in the first five minutes. The hard working visitors were putting the Blues off their game and were making good in-roads into the Shetland half. Rendall had a couple of long distance efforts, one which forced keeper Duncan into a fine save. Shetland had a bit more pressure as the game went on but it was evident that there would be no repeat of the 7-2 defeat earlier in the year. Twenty minutes in and a cracking Shetland drive came off the bar with the rebound being turned around the post by Manson. Five minutes later and Manson produced the save of the match when he clawed the ball back from the line at full stretch as Shetland up the tempo. Orkney were still digging in and putting together some excellent short passing moves. As half-time approached Shetland took the lead with a goal Orkney didn’t deserve to lose. A Shetland cross from the left took a cruel deflection off the impressive F.Allan at the near post and the ball squirmed into the goals at the near post.
Orkney were quick out of the blocks in the second period and McLean burst through in the inside left channel and hit a great shot high into the side netting. The first fifteen minutes of the second half were relatively even with the bigger Shetland team not being given a second on the ball. Orkney were dealt a huge blow with the loss of another soft goal. A long through ball looked harmless enough but Manson, who’d done well up to that point, took his eye off the ball, allowing it to slip through his hands into the net for 2-0.
Orkney didn’t allow this to affect their game and shortly after, a free-kick played into the Shetland box by Oag found its way to Delday who dispatched the ball into the net for 2-1. McLean and Bews were replaced by Craigie and Drever and shortly after this Orkney were dealt a blow when Rendall picked up a knock and had to be withdrawn. Ross came on, meaning a reshuffle of the pack and F.Allan was pushed further forward with great effect as Orkney were still getting the ball down and passing with confidence, without creating any clear cut chances. Shetland were still looking to kill the game off and with four minutes left, their right-back, Simpson, broke forward and hit a powerful drive which Manson could only push into the side of the goals for 3-1.
Pride was well and truly restored by the Orkney boys with everyone playing their part. There were however, several individual performances worthy of a mention, namely: Low, Aim, Nicolson, Rendall and McLean, with captain Fraser Allan getting the nod for Orkney’s man of the match.
Squad: Ewan Manson, Ryan Allan, Neil Aim, Fraser Allan, Jordan Low, Rory Oag, David Delday, Graham Rendall, Gary Nicolson, Ethan Bews, Aaron McLean, Jamie Drever, Ben Craigie & Callum Ross.