Fairclough's men secure Four Nations title
England, managed by Paul Fairclough, gained the point they needed in the final round of Four Nations matches to pick up the championship as they drew 1-1 with Scotland in Carmarthen.
Hereford United goalkeeper Matt Baker started his first match of the tournament and had a solid game, but his performance was blemished in the ninth minute when he brought down Scottish attacker Ian Murray. The striker, who scored fifty Highland League goals last season, struck home the resultant penalty to give the Scots the advantage. Baker, though, redeemed himself with a superb save from Mike Stephens eleven minutes later, and at the other end, United defender Michael Rose struck a free-kick from twenty-five yards just over the crossbar.
Just three minutes into the second period, Rose found the side netting as he searched for an equaliser, which came on the hour mark. A long clearance from Baker found Barnet's Junior Agogo, who brought the ball down and played in Roscoe D'Sane, the Aldershot attacker, who struck home. The point is enough to crown England as champions.
ENGLAND: Matt Baker (goalkeeper - Hereford United); John Kennedy (Canvey Island); Scott Guyett (captain - Chester City); Jon Boardman (Woking), Lee Johnson, (Yeovil Town); Tristam Whitman (Doncaster Rovers); Michael Rose (Hereford United); Paul Terry (Dagenham & Redbridge); Roscoe D'Sane (Aldershot Town); Junior Agogo (Barnet); Richard Norris (Northwich Victoria). Subs: Chris Weale (Yeovil Town); Terry Skiverton (Yeovil Town); Wayne Hatswell (Chester City); Stewart Drummond (Morecambe, on, 70 minutes); Lee Elam (Halifax Town, on 64 minutes); Kirk Jackson (on, 75 minutes), Darren Way (both Yeovil Town).
SCOTLAND: Andy Shearer (goalkeeper - Keith), Ross Archibald (Whitehill Welfare); Steve Dolan (captain, off 48 minutes), Derek Milne, Scott Anderson, Ian Murray (all Deveronvale); Mike Stephen (off, 53 minutes), Trevor Fleming, Stephen Main (all Fraserburgh); Darren Still (Keith, off 82 minutes); Paul McGinley (Threave Rovers). Subs: Scott Cantley (Whitehill Welfare); Bobby John Fairhurst (Wigtown and Bladnock, on, 82 minutes); Shawn Scott (Lossiemouth); Mike McKenzie (Deveronvale, on 53 minutes); Phil O’Neill (Lothian Thistle, on 48 minutes)
After the 1pm kick-off at Carmarthen, a quick dart up the A40 allowed a ground-hop to Haverfordwest County, where Wales lost 2-0 against Ireland. In a drab match, Jamie Nolan netted both goals towards the end of the first half as the Welsh defence looked to miss Tony James' stabilising effect, as he had to make do with a place on the bench after picking up a hamstring injury in the defeat against England on Thursday.
Mark Rooney charged into the Welsh box on thirty-four minutes and despite the shot being pushed away by goalkeeper Lee Kendall, who was playing on his home ground, Nolan was quick to tap in the rebound. Three minutes later, Nolan turned creator as he split the Welsh defence and struck a decent effort past Kendall to seal the scoreline. The second half was lacklustre, with neither side really taking control, and Paul Parry's performance on the flanks was one of few bright performances for Tomi Morgan's side.
WALES: Lee Kendall (goalkeeper - Haverfordwest County); , Gary Lloyd (captain), Lee Jarman (Barry Town); Paul Parry (Hereford United); Steve Evans (TNS); Ben Davies (Chester City, off, 84 minutes); Graham Evans (Caersws, off, 53 minutes); Mark Dodds (Port Talbot Athletic, off, 75 minutes). Subs: Lee Phillips (Barry Town); Gary Shepherd (Newport County; Bari Morgan (Aberystwyth Town, on, 84 minutes); Tony Pennock (Farnborough Town); Tony James (Hereford United); Ricky Evans (Bangor City, on, 75 minutes); Peter Smith (Telford United, on, 53 minutes).
IRELAND: Mark McNulty (goalkeeper - Cork City); Mark O’Brien, Alan Martin, Martin Krammer, Jimmy Fullam (all Shamrock Rovers); John Andrews (Cork City); Patrick McWalter (UC Dublin); Jamie Nolan (off, 80 minutes); Mark Rooney (off, 58 minutes); Stephen Murtagh (Shelbourne); David Smullen (Bray Wanderers). Subs: Dermot Fitzpatrick (Bray Wanderers, on, 80 minutes); Gerard Downey (Derry City); Alan Mulcany (Dublin City); Jonathan Duggan (Bohemians); Alan Kinsella (Shamrock Rovers, on, 58 minutes); Ben Savage (UC Dublin).
Final standings
P - Nation - P - W - D - L - F - A - Pts
1 - England - 3 - 2 - 1 - 0 - 7 - 1 - 7
2 - Scotland - 3 - 1 - 1 - 1 - 6 - 6 - 4
3 - Ireland - 3 - 1 - 0 - 2 - 5 - 8 - 3
4 - Wales - 3 - 1 - 0 - 2 - 2 - 5 - 3