Friday Apr 16, 2010
The Lamb played host to an England side for the first time on Friday (April 16) when the U18's (schools international side) entertained New Zealand in a friendly international match. more
U18 Schools International Match
England v New Zealand @ The Lamb
ESFA Vice Chair Mike Coyne along with manager Phil Nardiello and NZ tour leader Tony Ambrose and head coach Steve Cain took their two sides onto the field and after their respective national anthems were sung with pride, and the formalities were out of the way, including a superb haka by the visiting side, the two teams lined up as follows:
England:
Bazasco-Zaragosa, Kelly, Williams, Yorke, Thompson-Brown, Regis, Gates, Witham, Reeves, Robinson, Rivers
Subs: Moyo, Boyce, Molloy, Wilkinson
New Zealand:
Carr, Pett, Doyle, Morrison, Shaw, Gent, Biss, Pilkington, Lawson, Minshull, Cain
Subs: Morris, Cotter, Routledge, Gibbons, Lidstone, Ridsale, Shaw, Wallis
Referee: Mr. Warren (West Mids)
Assistants: Mr Reuke, (Shrops), Mr Mooney (Staffs)
Fourth Official: Mr Mitchell (Staffs)
The all whites and all blacks worked hard in the opening 45 minutes and went close without really testing either keeper in a goalless first half.
Kicking downhill in the second half England forced some close range saves from the New Zealand keeper and also went close with a couple of long range efforts.
England took the lead through Kenny Reeves who fired home from a yard out in the 88th minute and New Zealand almost pulled one back with the next move via a header which brought a good save from sub keeper Adam Molloy who then made another good stop from Cameron Lidstone's low shot but the ‘home' side celebrated victory at the final whistle.
Final Score: England 1 - 0 New Zealand
Look out for pics from the game in our final home programme of the season v Ebbsfleet on April 24.
