SUPPER MAN
UNDER 16s Goal hero Connor leaves his dinner to be a Scots winner
CONNOR BARRON has revealed how he was eating his tea before getting a late call-up to the Scotland Under-16 squad and becoming a hero against England – without even training.
The Aberdeen star bagged a memorable long-range effort to open the scoring in 68 minutes and Ayr’s Finn Ecrepont added a second with five minutes left.
This was meant to be all about Celtic wonderkid Karamoko Dembele but it was his second-half replacement Barron who grabbed the limelight.
The match also featured two missed penalties as Scotland No.1 Jack Newman pulled off a superb stop from Spurs striker Nonso Madeuke’s first-half effort before Scotland and St Mirren defender Ben Cameron also missed from the spot.
Teenager Barron said: “I was eating my dinner and I got a call from head of youth Neil Simpson late on Wednesday night saying Brian McLaughlin had drafted me into the Scotland squad.
“I was absolutely buzzing. I was sitting eating my tea and joined the rest of the boys at 11.30pm on Wednesday night. I had no training sessions.
“I watched the Qatar game and was just thinking I could be involved on the pitch against England. It is great to beat England and we are buzzing.
“When I came on I just wanted to make an impact. The ball came to me and I just thought I would have a pop as I saw the keeper off his line. I’ll definitely watch that goal over and over again!” Boss Brian McLaughlin made nine changes to the side that had hammered Qatar 7-0 at the Oriam on Tuesday in this Under-16 International Tournament. Dembele started up front alongside Hoops double goalscoring hero Michael Sparkes and Sunderland keeper Newman replaced Motherwell’s Robbie Hemfrey. Oliver Pendlebury was fortunate to escape punishment for a late lunge on Sparkes. The Scotland man came off the worst and limped off to receive some treatment but left the field in 23 minutes to be replaced by Sunderland’s Liam Miller. Newman then raced out of his goal to deny Rafael Garcia a strike at goal with the Three Lions ace claiming a penalty. Hearts star Connor Smith was then inches away from the opener for Scotland when he fired in a 20-yard drive that whistled inches past the post. It was the Scots who had a real let-off in 38 minutes when England were awarded a penalty after Cameron upended the sprightly Garcia in the area. However, Madeuke’s spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Newman as he flung himself to his left to keep out the Spurs youngster’s low drilled effort. Just after the break Ecrepont slammed in a shot that keeper Harvey Collins jabbed away with his foot. Scotland then spurned a glorious opportunity to take the lead in 54 minutes after Cole Starrs was fouled by Jeriel Dorsett. However, Cameron’s chest-high penalty was palmed away by the hands of Collins. It was a frustrating occasion for Dembele whose evening ended in 61 minutes when he was replaced by Barron. But the Dons kid then became the unlikely hero for Scotland with the opener in 68 minutes. Barron hit a speculative 20-yard shot goalwards that hit the bar and cannoned off the knees of Collins before creeping over the line. Ecrepont then made it 2-0 with a sweet right-foot drive from just inside the box. The Scots will finish the tournament with an outing against Uruguay at the Oriam on Saturday afternoon. Scotland U16s – Newman, Ecrepont, Cameron, Logan (Patterson 47), Grigor, Smith (Winter 70), Kettings (Weir 47,) Forrest, Sparkes (Miller 23), Dembele (Barron 61), Starrs (McAlear 70). Subs not used: Hemfrey (GK), Hamiton, Morrison, McAlear, Winter.