Over the course of the weekend, our U16 Boys played a strong Scottish side in three competitive games at Ulster University Jordanstown.
Ulster fielded three teams consisting of the 28 players who were selected for the U16 squad just last month and were accompanied by Head Coach Jack Kyle, Assistants Nathan Donald and Rickey Lee, Goalkeeping Coach Finlay Marney, Manager Ryan McMaster, and Ulster Hockey Talent Coach Shirley McCay.
The first of the three fixtures took place on Friday evening when despite a slow start for the hosts, they managed to get to the end of the first quarter at 0-0.
The second period saw Ulster looking like a different side as they won a series of short corners and created several chances but ultimately couldn’t get their goal. Then just before the half-time break the side cruelly fell behind as Scotland scored a reverse from the top of the circle.
Scotland seemed to take confidence from their goal and in the third quarter, they continuously tested Ulster goalkeeper Sam Holmes before they doubled their advantage.
In the final quarter, Scotland added two quick goals in as many minutes to take their lead to four, but the young Ulster side continued to battle and grabbed a consolation goal from Edward Irwin with the last touch of the game.
The Second game of the weekend got underway at noon on Saturday and saw the young Ulster side take the lead after just three minutes when Robbie McAreavey rounded off a free-flowing attack.
However, their lead would only last two minutes before Scotland equalized. From there it was the hosts who continued to control the game, but the sides went into the end of the first quarter level.
It was Ulster who began the second period on top and won a handful of short corners but with no prevail. Eventually, they got their reward as Charlie Tumilty restored their lead with 28 minutes played. Then straight from the restart, it became 3-1 as Ulster caught Scotland on the break and Adam McKee doubled the lead.
They remained on top until just before half-time when Scotland grabbed a late goal to reduce the deficit to one. Straight after the break, the visitors grabbed the equaliser as Ulster lost their hard-earned lead.
From that point on the travelling side began to take control of the game and continued to threaten the home goal only to be kept out by a stern Ulster defence.
However, their pressure soon paid off when they took the lead for the first time in the game after 51 minutes played and they soon doubled their lead from a short corner to make it 5-3.
The third and final game took place on Sunday at 10am.
It was our U16s who took control early in the fixture with Scotland’s goalkeeper being forced into several saves early on before we finally took the lead.
Matthew McAreavy opened the scoring which gave Ulster a deserved lead as his straight strike proved too much for the Scottish keeper on that occasion.
Following the goal it was Scotland who began to dominate, winning a series of short corners and creating several chances on the counterattack. Despite their efforts the home defence remained firm and kept the attack at bay.
That was until four minutes into the second half when an Ulster attack broke down and their opponents caught them on a swift counter-attack and a brilliant reverse effort found the bottom corner.
Despite giving up their lead our U16s responded well and just three minutes later they restored their lead with McAreavey the scorer once again.
The scores remained the same for much of the second half with Ulster continuing to threaten the Scottish goal and finally, they got their reward.
Having won a short corner, they say their initial effort was saved by the goalkeeper but only parried as far as Harry Thompson who converted the rebound and made it 3-1, as it finished.
