Scotland under-21 boss given selection dilemma
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SCOTLAND under-21 international manager Gary Reid was an interested spectator at Saturday’s North-South encounter at Fort William’s An Aird stadium and left the match with more questions than answers.
Reid is preparing to select a 19-man squad for next month’s clash with the Irish in the shinty-hurling international and he saw the unfancied South group outmaneuvre their northern counterparts for a 3-1 victory.
The performance left Reid with a welcome but wholly unexpected selection dilemma.
"We have cast our eyes over 70 under-21 players in the selection process and Saturday’s match was we hoped the final part of the exercise of arriving at the 19 lads to go to Newry," he said.
"I am delighted to say that a number of players have put their hands up on Saturday and given us food for thought. We cannot ignore their claims.
"Competition for places is what you want and we now have some really difficult decisions to make before settling on the formation of the final squad."
The rebirth of the once eagerly awaited fixture was not a huge success, however, and the ruling body will be disappointed at the low turnout of spectators despite the fixture being the only one on the card on Saturday.
Glasgow Mid Argyll striker Craig Anderson fired the South ahead in the 32nd minute but Lochaber’s Stuart Callison equalised in the 40th minute.
On the stroke of half-time, Angus Thorburn of Aberdour restored the South’s advantage.
The more fancied North team dominated the second half but failed to find a way through a resolute South rearguard and in the dying minutes Strachur’s Iain Wilson struck to seal the victory.
