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Comfortable win for Scotland U23  


Scotland U23 ran out comfy 5-1 winners against Czechia U23 in their friendly match at Falkirk on Monday.


Scotland started brightly and Michael McArdle's side took an early lead within the first ten minutes as Emma Lawton's accurate long range pass picked out the run of Mia McAulay who showed electric pace to burst away from the Czechia defence before composing herself and sliding the ball past goalkeeper Holikova Adela to make it 1-0.


Czechia were inches away from hitting back within minutes, however, with captain Cvrckova Klara striking a left footed half volley that came back off the crossbar.


Despite that scare, Scotland would extend their lead on 23 minutes. As chance would have it, it was the hosts' three Eilidhs who combined, as Eilidh Shore's lofted ball released Eilidh Austin. The full back flashed the ball across the face of goal first time and it was Eilidh Adams who met the cross at the far post to tuck home the second goal of the game.


Scotland had a couple of chances to extend their lead going into the break, while Czechia rarely threatened as the sides went in at half time with the score at 2-0.


McArdle's side only had to wait three minutes after the interval to extend their lead though, as Adams grabbed her second of the game. Once again, the Czechia defence was caught out by a long ball, and the striker once again showed brilliant composure to swivel and fire a low shot into the corner to make it 3-0 to the hosts.


Scotland had been dominant but Czechia hit back in the 55th minute to get on the scoresheet. Once again it was a lofted aerial pass that released Subrtova Anna who slotted beyond Rachel Johnstone.


McArdle made a triple substitution just after the hour mark, with Jenna Penman, Jodi McLeary and Maria McAneny all coming down. One of the substitutes, McAneny, almost made an instant impact as her precise free kick found Adams but the striker tried to control the ball rather than meet it first time, and the chance disappeared.


That would be Adams' last action as she was replaced by Tegan Bowie, while Jasmine Bull, Bayley Hutchison and Kathleen McGovern all came on as McArdle rang the changes.


It would be Bowie who would make the instant impact in the 73rd minute, as she met Jodi McLeary's cross and fired an unstoppable volley past the goalkeeper Adela.


Bowie was involved again in the 83rd minute to create goal number five as she got to the bye-line and crossed for Hibernian team mate McGovern, who took a wonderful touch on her left foot before slotting home with her right from six yards out.


There would be no further goals as Scotland recorded an impressive win, building on the 2-2 draw in Belgium last week, as they brought this camp to an end.


Scotland U23: Rachael Johnstone, Emma Lawton, Leah Eddie (sub Jenna Penman 62mins), Paige McAllister (sub Jasmine Bull 78mins), Mia McAulay (sub Bayley Hutchison 72mins), Eilidh Austin, Monica Forsyth (sub Jodi McLeary 63mins), Jenny Smith (sub Maria McAneny 63mins), Morgan Cross (sub Kathleen McGovern 78mins), Eilidh Adams (sub Tegan Bowie 72mins), Eilidh Shore. Sub not  used: Erin Clachers.


(scottishfa.co.uk)