Oxfordshire footballer Jordan Ayris enjoyed an unforgettable moment as he scored his first goal for England Schools Under 18s in a 1-0 victory over Wales.
The 18-year-old centre forward, from Bicester, provided the decisive strike in the 53rd minute of the Centenary Shield clash at Yeovil Town in front of a noisy crowd of 6,197.
Ayris netted with a delightful chip over Luke Martin from the edge of the area after the Welsh goalkeeper struggled to get any distance on a goalkick.
“It was great and it was in front of the biggest crowd that I have played,” said the Bicester Community College student as England bounced back from an opening 2-0 defeat by Northern Ireland.
“It was the first goal we have scored in the Centenary Shield and it was good to get one on the scoreboard. Hopefully, I will score a few more now.”
When asked whether he had always dreamed of scoring for England, Ayris added: “I have not really thought about it, but it will be something I will never forget.”
He also fired a shot over the bar from outside the box early in the first half, and sent a header wide from a corner after he had scored.
“We had a few sort of half-chances,” he added. “We could have been one or two up at half-time.”
Ayris later went off after a clash of heads with Welsh right back Adam Biddiscombe.
“I was OK to carry on, but he (manager Andy Williams) took me off. It was just a knock.”
Now Ayris will be hoping to fire England to victory in their remaining games against Scotland at Inverness on Thursday, April 21 and Republic of Ireland at Shamrock Rovers on Thursday, April 28 – with both matches live on Sky Sports.
“I think we have got a good chance of winning the rest of our games and we have to hope Northern Ireland slip up,” he said.
In the meantime, Ayris and England have an international fixture in Poland on Tuesday, April 12.
And he is also continuing to help Ardley United in their quest for a Uhlsport Hellenic League and cup double.
The day after scoring for England he came off the bench to grab the winner in Ardley’s 1-0 victory at Slimbridge in the Bluefin Insurance Brokers Cup quarter-final.
“The next day I was with Ardley and everyone there was happy for me,” he added of his England exploits.
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