Venue: Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Attendance:
Final Score: 1-2
Scorers:
Scotland B:
01, Ally Maxwell (Rangers)
02, Stephen Wright (Aberdeen)
03, Andy Millen (Kilmarnock)
04, Chris McCart (Motherwell)
05, David Robertson (Rangers)
06, Paul Telfer (Luton Town)
07, Billy McKinlay (Dundee United)
08, Don Hutchison (Liverpool)
09, Rab McKinnon (Motherwell)
10, Scott Booth (Aberdeen)
11, Eoin Jess (Aberdeen)
Subs Used, Craig Nelson (Partick Thistle), Scotland Gemmill (Nottingham Forest), Shaun McSkimming (Kilmarnock)
Unused Subs, Christian Dailly (Dundee United), Paul Bernard (Oldham Athletic)
Manager,
Wales B:
01, Tony Roberts (Queen's Park Rangers)
02, Karl Ready (Queen's Park Rangers)
03, Christian Edwards (Swansea City)
04, Alan Neilson (Newcastle United)
05, Jason Perry (Cardiff City)
06, Sean McCarthy (Oldham Athletic)
07, Michael Meaker (Queen's Park Rangers)
08, Mark Pembridge (Derby County)
09, Iwan Roberts (Leicester City)
10, Steve Watkin (Wrexham)
11, Jones
Substitutes — Martyn Margetson (Manchester City), Ceri Hughes (Luton Town), Jason Bowen (Swansea City), Griffiths, Lee Nogan (Watford).
Manager,
Referee — G Keatley (N Ireland).
Match Report:
JAMES TRAYNOR The Glasgow Herald
The idea of playing a B international against Wales was to identify those players capable of holding down places in the full Scottish squad which will be charged with the responsibility of reaching the European Championship finals. Few of the shadow squad who lost at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, last night can expect calls from Craig Brown. It was a pretty dismal match watched by just 3451, and among them were a number of club managers from England and Scotland. There wasn't much to see by way of genuine talent.Rangers manager Walter Smith was in the centre stand, perhaps having a look at Scot Gemmill, who played only in the second half and was unable to influence those around him to great effect. It is probably fair to say that only Aberdeen's Scott Booth and Eoin Jess, as well as David Robertson, did enough to merit inclusion when the manager lists a squad for the game against Holland next month at Hampden. Billy McKinlay also will be included. Much was expected of others, but they didn't take their opportunities, and Don Hutchison was especially disappointing. He offered little in the first half and was replaced early in the second by Shaun McSkimming. The Welsh were simply a little sharper and, although they could consider themselves fortunate to have won, they were pleased with themselves. Iwan Roberts and Mark Pembridge took the plaudits because of their goals, one in each half and which sandwiched Chris McCart's second-half goal. Brown looked upon the match as a learning experience. ''I am disappointed with the result,'' he said. ''When we equalised I thought we would go ahead and edge it. But the Welsh did very well and created two very good goals. ''But I said before the match that the game was more about looking at players who were capable of taking this step up to international level more than coming down here and getting a result.''
The Welsh started looking much more confident. It seemed easier for them to find their own players while Scotland's work for much of the first half lacked composure. Sometimes there was a touch of the erratic, too, but they improved as time passed although Wales struck the first telling blow, scoring after 30 minutes and highlighting a weakness at the heart of Scotland's defence in the process. Chris McCart, who is tall enough, was having difficulty intercepting high deliveries and it was a lobbed pass which created the opening for Roberts. Michael Meaker looked up in a congested area just outside Scotland's box, put a foot under the ball, and flicked it on. Roberts was on his own and thumped the ball into the roof of Ally Maxwell's net. A couple of minutes later Roberts supplied Steve Watkin, who had run in from the left, but Stephen Wright was alert to the danger on his side of the field and blocked the shot. Scotland kept Maxwell indoors after the break allowing Craig Nelson to take over in goal and Paul Telfer also was kept in. His place was taken by Scot Gemmill.
Wales took off Watkin in 56 minutes and sent on Ceri Hughes. At the same time the Scots withdrew Hutchison and sent on Shaun McSkimming. That switch was accompanied by a change of position for Rob McKinnon, who went further forward on the left with McSkimming playing just inside. The Scots looked a little busier, but they were still not troubling Wales too much even though Booth and Jess always were liable to score given a proper chance. In fact, when Scotland's best opportunity was made, by Booth's cross from the left which evaded the hands of Margetson, it was Wright who was waiting. However, the full back couldn't get enough on the ball. Wales raced down to the opposite end and Roberts should have scored his second, but succeeded only in hitting the ball against Nelson when it looked easier to score.However, Scotland finally did get the ball in the Welsh net when a corner was won on the right. McKinnon took the kick and McCart was allowed to rise unchallenged and he headed into the net. His joy was short-lived though when he and his defence were under pressure two minutes later. Dreadful covering left Roberts free and his powerfully hit shot was heading for the roof of the net when McCart and Millen both jumped and one of them used a hand to deny the goal.It looked as though McCart was the culprit but, remarkably, the referee didn't even speak to a Scottish player after he awarded a penalty when such an offense merits a red card. Mark Pembridge scored with the spot kick.
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