Fife Schools U18s 2

Scottish Independent Schools U18s 3

FIFE Schools Under-18s lost out to Scottish Independent Schools after fighting back from two goals down in their first National Trophy group game.

Players from Queen Anne High School and Woodmill High School were among the 16-man squad for the opening group fixture at Beath High School.

Sean Malpas and MacKenzie Roe were selected from Queen Anne with Ewan Maguire, Kyle Walls and Craig Watt representing Woodmill in the squad. The players were picked from three sets of trials involving 75 of the best school players in Fife.

Despite lots of possession and calm play on the ball, the Fife side found themselves two goals down at half time to a fast, athletic and committed Independent outfit. The home side were motivated after the break and quickly drew level early in the second half with goals from Ryan Connelly (Beath HS) and Jack Smith (Glenrothes HS). With momentum clearly with the Fife boys, a sucker punch came at the other end with the away side going in front before defending resolutely to see the game out.

They have two more games left in their group, with two wins required in order to progress. They face an away trip to Dundee Schools on 3 November before hosting North of Scotland later in the month.

Gary Cunningham, co-coach, is not disheartened by the team's opening defeat and remains confident they'll progress to the next round, he said: "The boys have excellent talent and if they can play to their potential in the last two games and do things properly then they have every chance of getting the wins they need. They are a great bunch of boys, who work hard, listen and are doing their best to do Fife proud."