Armadale Academy duo play part in Scots Centenary Cup win

Mar 25 2010 West Lothian Courier

SCOTLAND’S Under-18 soccer stars picked up the first win of their Centenary Shield campaign this week with a helping hand from two West Lothian stars.

Striker Fraser Keast had a hand in the opening goal of Scotland’s 3-2 win over Wales while at the other end Andy Murphy repelled a host of Welsh efforts with a goalkeeping masterclass.

Both boys, who are pupils at Armadale Academy, played key roles in a dominant first-half in which the Scots teens went in 2-0 up at the break.

The second-half proved to be more of the same but they failed to convert the succession of chances which came their way.

And they were made to rue these misses as the Welsh scored twice in a 10-minute spell to draw level.

The opening goal of the game came just before the half-hour mark when Scots skipper Michael Hunter latched onto a Keast cross to head home.

Martin Boyle added to Scotland’s lead seven minutes later with a powerful run and drive.

However Wales rallied and struck back twice in quick succession to set up a dramatic end to the match.

There was only a matter of minutes left of regulation time when a low Martin Boyle cross was turned past his own keeper by a Welsh defender to hand the Scots a crucial victory.

Scotland now face the Republic of Ireland away in Ballybofey on Friday, April 2, as the Centenary Shield Championship begins to take shape.

Scotland have two games remaining, both away from home, to the Republic and to England.