JACK WOOD TOURNAMENT 2004

Republic of Ireland 0 – Northern Ireland 1

Ayrshire 1 – Aberdeen & District JFA 8

Ayrshire v Aberdeen

Team:

Michael Calder, Calum Annand, Cameron Bowden, Phil Chalmers, Calum MacLure, David Stevenson, Daniel Pirie, David Christie, Michael Middler, Ryan Whelan, Peter Bruce

Subs:

Andrew Lawrie, Kieran Irvine, Andrew Cairns, Michael Fletcher, Zachary Thomson, Jamie MacKinnon

The opening ten minutes were quite tight with neither team dominating. When a corner by Aberdeen was only half cleared Ryan Whelan volleyed home from twelve yards to put Aberdeen ahead. Ayrshire responded and Mike Calder in the Aberdeen goals had to tip a twenty-yard shot over the bar. From the resultant corner, a long high clearance over the Ayrshire defence was controlled by Peter Bruce and slipped through to Ryan Whelan whose angled shot from the edge of the box saw Aberdeen go ahead 2 – 0.

Ayrshire were now dominating the midfield and a tactical change saw Calum MacLure move forward from left back to left midfield to counter the runs of Ayrshire’s number 7. The Aberdeen defence had a lucky escape when a free kick played across the six-yard box saw no Ayrshire striker able to make contact. Aberdeen broke forward and good interplay between Ryan Whelan and Peter Bruce saw the Ayrshire goalkeeper save Peter’s shot. A good break down the right by Ayrshire saw a wicked cross deflected by an Aberdeen defender into his own net just on the half-time whistle.

Half Time: 2 - 1

Aberdeen were pushing forward early in the second half and when David Christie won the ball in midfield, he slipped it through to Peter Bruce who shot home. A cleverly taken quick free kick by Michael Fletcher saw the keeper save Peter Bruce’s initial shot but Ryan Whelan pounced onto the second ball to volley home from close in. Ryan Whelan picked up a clearance on the halfway line, beat three defenders and shot home from the edge of the box into the corner of the net. David Christie and Zachary Thomson played a good one/two to see Zachary shoot home from a tight angle.

From a Calum Annand corner, Ryan Whelan headed home from the back post. When David Stevenson was fouled in the box, Calum Annand stroked home the resultant penalty to see Aberdeen run out convincing 8 – 1 winners.

Ayrshire 0 – Northern Ireland 2

Aberdeen & District JFA 0 – Republic of Ireland 3

Aberdeen v Republic of Ireland

Team: Andrew Lawrie, Calum Annand, Jamie MacKinnon, Phil Chalmers, Cameron Bowden, Kieran Irvine, David Christie, Daniel Pirie, Michael Middler, Ryan Whelan, Peter Bruce

Subs: Michael Calder, Andrew Cairns, Zachary Thomson, David Stevenson, Calum MacLure, Michael Fletcher

We were caught cold against an excellent Republic of Ireland side and were pinned back into our own half in the opening minutes. We had an early warning when a good run down the right by the Republic saw the ball cut back and the resultant shot narrowly going past the post. When a cross from the right was only half cleared a shot from the edge of the box hit the back of the net to see the Republic lead 1 – 0 with only four minutes gone.

Three minutes later, a cross from the right saw the smallest player on the park ghost in at the far post to head in from close in to see the Republic lead 2 – 0 after seven minutes!!

We fought our way back into the game with Daniel Pirie and David Christie contesting every ball in midfield. Calum Annand was unlucky to see his twenty-five yard free kick just go over the bar. The game was being mainly played in our half with our strikers Ryan Whelan and Peter Bruce having to feed off scraps. Ryan Whelan latched on to a through ball but fired his shot well over the bar. A great run down the right by a Republic player saw Andy Lawrie in goals make a great save right on half-time to keep us in the game.

Half time: 2 - 0

Disaster for Aberdeen only two minutes into the second half when a clumsy challenge in the box saw us give away a penalty which was duly dispatched to make the score 3 – 0.

We were now under severe pressure but all credit to the boys at this point whose heads never went down and they kept fighting to try to get back in the game. The Republic were now playing free-flowing football but our back four of Calum Annand, Jamie MacKinnon, Phil Chalmers and Cameron Bowden were equal to everything that the Republic could throw at them. A cross from the right saw the Republic striker’s header look goal bound but Andy Lawrie, in goals, made another great save to see the game finish 3 – 0.

Republic of Ireland 9 – Ayrshire 0

Northern Ireland 2 – Aberdeen & District JFA 1

Northern Ireland v Aberdeen

Team: Andrew Lawrie, Calum Annand, Jamie MacKinnon, Phil Chalmers, Cameron Bowden, Zachary Thomson, Kieran Irvine, Daniel Pirie, Michael Middler, Ryan Whelan, Michael Fletcher

Subs: Michael Calder, David Stevenson, David Christie, Calum MacLure, Andrew Cairns, Peter Bruce

Midfielder David Christie sits this one out due to a foot injury sustained in the game against the Republic. Northern Ireland were first on the attack with Andy Lawrie in goals easily saving a header from a free kick. Aberdeen went onto the attack and a cross field ball from left to right saw Zachary Thomson in space but his shot was comfortably saved by the goalkeeper. When a Northern Ireland corner was only half cleared, the ball was fired back across goals but there were no takers.

Kieran Irvine won the ball in the centre of midfield and passed to Michael Middler on the left who fired the ball across the Northern Ireland six yard box but none of the Aberdeen strikers could make contact. Ryan Whelan went on a run and the ball was eventually played out for a corner. When the corner kick was only half cleared, Daniel Pirie rammed the ball home from fifteen yards to put Aberdeen ahead.

Half Time: 1 - 0

The first fifteen minutes of the second period, Aberdeen were finding it difficult to get out of their half and after a number of corner kicks Northern Ireland eventually equalised. Despite Jamie MacKinnon heading the ball out twenty-five yards a Northern Ireland player volleyed the ball into the top left-hand corner to score the goal of the tournament.

Play was quite even after this with neither side able to get on top. Late on in the half, when a corner to Northern Ireland was only half cleared, the ball was forced home to see Northern Ireland lead 2 – 1. Despite a late flourish, Aberdeen were unable to equalise and Northern Ireland celebrated at the final whistle as the winners of the Jack Wood Tournament.

All seventeen boys in the squad have been a credit to the Aberdeen & District Juvenile Football Association as their behaviour both off and on the park has been impeccable and their attitude and commitment at the games first class.

Graham Coutts, Abbey McDonald and Eric Mannall