Ryman's England C stars congratulated by clubs

Hendon’s Charlie Goode and Dulwich Hamlet’s Frazer Shaw have been congratulated by their Ryman League clubs for making their international debuts in England C’s 2-1 win in Ireland.

Greens defender Goode and Hamlet left-back Fraser both played in Monday’s friendly victory for Paul Fairclough’s new look England side in Galway over the Republic of Ireland’s U21s in their final game of the season.

Despite a motorway jam leading to both missing their flight to Ireland with a number of other players on Friday, the pair put the near disaster behind them, Shaw starting and Goode coming off the bench with just under 20 minutes left to play to bolster England’s defence with the Republic pushing for a late equaliser after pulling one back.

After including five players from outside the Football Conference for the first time in his 16-man squad, Fairclough’s side finished the game at Eamonn Deacy Park with four players on the pitch from Step 3 clubs.

While Goode, 19, was named in Fairclough’s original squad 24 hours before playing for Hendon in May’s Ryman Premier play-off final, Shaw, 20, was only called up last week to fly the flag for the Ryman League following a number of injury induced withdrawals from the squad.

Shaw, who kicked off his career at West Ham, was instrumental in Gavin Rose's side securing a place in the Ryman Premier play-offs. Congratulating him on becoming the first Hamlet star to play for England C, a club spokesman said: “Many congratulations from all at Champion Hill. Frazer has joined a long list of Dulwich Hamlet internationals and we're very proud of his achievement."

Goode was signed by Hendon boss Gary McCann from AFC Hayes in November 2014 after coming through the youth ranks at Harefield United and then Hadley.

Hailing the 20-year-old's achievement, a Greens spokesman said: “We were thrilled when Charlie was selected for the England C squad. It was a real honour for him and the club as recognition for the part played by our manager Gary McCann and his staff in his development."

In all, Fairclough handed six players their first England C caps and he reckons they certainly seized their chances.

The England manager said: “It was an unbelievable achievement from a group of players who haven’t played for five weeks. They all put in a fantastic performance against a good side. I’m very proud of them.”

Three Lions captain Matty Pearson led the way as England C scored two goals in two minutes to end the season on a high, the FC Halifax Town midfielder opening the scoring in the 65th minute, pictured, before Jordan Roberts fired in a second.

West Ham United's Sean Maguire pulled one back for the hosts whose squad also had a Ryman League and Hendon connection in former Greens loanee Jack Connors, now a regular first teamer at Dagenham & Redbridge after his spell in the league’s top flight two years ago.

Image courtesy of www.thefa.com

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