HUNDREDS of schoolchildren filled the stands at Cappielow yesterday as the Scottish Schools FA hosted Wales in the under-18s Centenary Shield competition.
Held annually, the tournament is contested between the British and Irish schoolboy associations.
Scotland kicked off their campaign with a draw away to the Republic of Ireland on February 29.
Captained by St Columba’s High pupil Owen Doyle, the boys were cheered on by more than 500 local schoolchildren in Greenock yesterday afternoon.
The match was watched by a crowd of just under 1,000.
Wales went 1-0 up thanks to an own goal 14 minutes in, but Scotland turned their fortunes around after a quick double from Stuart McDowell around the half-hour mark.
A subsequent hat-trick for Wales’ Osian Evans secured a 2-4 win for the visitors.
Inverclyde Academy was also represented, with pupil Jamie Low coming on as a sub during the match.
Morton general manager Dale Pryde-McDonald said it was an ‘honour’ to host the match and praised the crowd for creating a ‘terrific atmosphere’. He joined local woman and SSFA president Gillian Duffy to meet the teams before the match.
Scotland currently sit in fourth place on one point ahead of their tie against top-of-the-table Northern Ireland on March 21 at Ochilview Park.
After that, they will travel down south to face England in Chesterfield on April 12.
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