Scotland’s under-16 side stood strong against their English counterparts to lift this season’s Sky Sports Victory Shield with a 1-0 win at Stark’s Park and end a 15-year wait for success in the four nation tournament.
A win in Northern Ireland and draw in Wales had set up the opportunity for Scott Booth’s side to grab their first outright triumph since the autumn of 1998 with only a draw required.
However, Calvin Miller’s first half goal and some resolute defending saw the job done in style.
Booth’s side had started brightly in front of a noisy and enthusiastic support and the fans backed an appeal for an early penalty when Celtic striker Miller tumbled in the box as English captain Cameron Humphreys moved in to tackle.
Referee Newlands was not swayed and correctly waved played on.
On 13 minutes Theo Archibald had a glimpse of goal as he darted on to a through ball ahead of visiting goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman. The winger lofted the ball over the shot-stopper and towards the goal but watched in agony as it crashed into the side-netting.
Scotland struck on 28 minutes albeit with a touch of good fortune when Archibald flung over a cross that Whiteman came out and claimed. However, he collided with Humphreys and spilled the ball out to Miller and the striker managed to roll a shot past the stricken goalkeeper from eight yards out.
Miller had two chances to double Scotland’s lead before the break, however Whiteman pushed away his shot from a McKenzie Heaney pass and from the resultant corner the striker’s header was blocked on the line.
Leko’s trickery put Scotland on the back foot early in the second half and Herbie Kane darted forward and sent in a low drive that McCrorie did well to push away.
Just as they had when threatened in the first half Scotland went back on the attack and they came within inches of a second.
Ross McCrorie, the twin brother of the shot-stopper, got his head on a Mark Hill corner, but his effort came rattling back off the woodwork.
The English side were determined not to go down without a fight and Ndukwu broke forward with 10 minutes left and left two players standing before defender McCrorie stood strong to clear at the expense of a corner.
England had the lion’s share of possession until the final whistle but the Scottish defence formed a solid blue line to keep them out. There was a late scare when Fobay Naday whipped in a free-kick, Ross McCrorie rising highest to clear.