Page 30 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.19 2021-22
P. 30

Scotland Under-17 squad to play Wales

       Pauline  MacDonald  has  named  her  Scotland  Women’s  Under-17  squad  for  a  friendly
       double-header against Wales next month. The Scots will travel south for two games as
       they look to shake off a COVID-19-disrupted year and make up for lost time.
            They are building towards the 2021-22 UEFA Women’s Under-17s EURO Round
       Two,  League  B  Group  2  campaign  in  March,  which  will  see  Scotland  take  on  hosts
       Albania, Azerbaijan and North Macedonia.
            Back  in  September,  MacDonald’s  side  were  forced  to  withdraw  from  the
       Qualification  Round  of  the  UEFA  Women’s  Under-17s  Championships  following  a
       number  of  positive  COVID-19  tests  within  the  squad.  They  were  due  to  take  on  host
       nation Netherlands, Slovenia and Czech Republic until the cruel twist of fate.
            Fresh  from  a  productive  training  camp  on  Scottish  soil,  MacDonald  and  the
       players alike are determined to bounce back from a reluctant period in cold storage.
            She  told  www.scottishfa.co.uk:  “It’s  been  a  very,  very  challenging  time  for  this
       group of players after working so hard across the summer months.
            “We played two very competitive games against Hearts because we couldn’t get an
       international challenge match, as a result of travel restrictions. We were in camp for two
       days, had the outbreak and that ruled us out of the qualification phase.
            “That was the first UEFA tournament in 18 months, so it was a real blow to the
       players and staff. To have to explain to them that so much had changed within the space
       of 12 hours was tough.
            “Now we’re really excited by the prospect of being able to play the two games in
       Wales. They’ll represent a real challenge for the players, as the Welsh squad have played
       seven games – four friendlies and three qualification games – against some top sides. It’s
       a first real test for this group.”
            Scotland Under-17 squad:
       Eilidh  Austin  (Rangers),  Mya  Bates  (Glasgow  City),  Tiree  Burchill  (Hamilton
       Academical, on loan from Celtic),  Kiera Chuter (Celtic), Leigha Dobbins (Celtic), Maddie
       Finnie (Aberdeen), Lily Graham (Spartans), Georgia Gray (Rangers), Brodie Greenwood
       (Aberdeen),  Kayla  Jardine  (Rangers),  Elise  Macara  (Boroughmuir  Thistle),  Kirsty
       MacLean  (Rangers),  Lisa  Maher-Rodgers  (Heart  of  Midlothian),  Mia  McAuley
       (Rangers),  Annalisa  McCann  (Aberdeen),  Jodi  McLeary  (Rangers),  Niamh  Noble
       (Glasgow City), Olivia Potter (Celtic), Leah Sidey (Spartans), Rebecca Taylor (Rangers),
       Millie Urquhart (Aberdeen), Emma Watson (Rangers).
            The double header of matches against Wales under-17, who are managed by Loren
       Dykes,  will  start  at  Denbigh  Town  FC  on  Tuesday  8th  February  (KO  6pm),  with  the
       second match taking place at Colliers Park on Friday 11th February (KO 1pm).
            The matches will also prepare the Wales side for their 2022 UEFA #WU17EURO
       Qualifying Round 2 matches in April. Wales will face hosts England, Iceland and Belgium
       in League A.
            Meanwhile, Nic Anderson’s Wales Under-19s will also face Scotland on Tuesday
       15th February (6pm, at Denbigh Town FC) and Friday 18th February (1pm, Colliers Park).
            Anderson  will  use  the  matches  as  preparation  for  the  side’s  2022  UEFA
       #WU17EURO  Qualifying  Round  2  matches  in  March.  Wales  will  face  hosts  Armenia,
       Turkey and Latvia in League B.
            The matches will be played behind closed doors, with invites for family and friends
       to attend the fixtures at Denbigh Town.
        Issue no. 19 - 27 January 2022      news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk
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