Goalden Dutch
Brodie Spencer and Conor Scannell were on the goal trail as Northern Ireland’s Under 15s finished sixth in the Rotterdam Cup over Easter Weekend.
The Cliftonville duo were part of the panel that defeated True North 1-0 on Staurday morning, while Spencer found the net in the afternoon’s 2-0 victory over Finnish side Kapylan Pallo.
Despite losing to Hoffenheim U15s 2-0 on Sunday evening, Northern Ireland – managed by former Reds boss Gerard Lyttle – went into Sunday’s encounter with Club Brugge still firmly in the hunt to win Group D.
A 2-1 win against the Belgians set up an intriguing battle with Brondby but, despite Scannell (pictured) scoring in his side’s 2-1 success, NI missed out on top spot on goal difference.
All of which meant the team – whose fixtures were played at the Excelsior Stadion in Rotterdam, where Cliftonville tackled RKSV Leonidas in January 2012 – faced American outfit Crossfire Premier in yesterday’s Play-Off Semi Final.
A 1-0 win in that game set up a decisive showdown against AZ Alkmaar, with the Dutch side claiming the success which earned a fifth-placed finish.
Everyone at Solitude congratulates Brodie and Conor on their goalscoring exploits on the international stage and look forward to seeing them continue to blossom in Cliftonville’s Football Development Centre.