By Tony Fowles Ironworks Gazette
March 27 2005

West Ham United’s James Tomkins played for ninety minutes in the first two games and forty one minutes in the third and decisive group match in the Montaigu Tournament. Unfortunately it was not enough as the young Lions only finished third and will be coming home early West Ham United’s James Tomkins played for ninety minutes in the first two games and forty one minutes in the third and decisive group match in the Montaigu Tournament. Unfortunately it was not enough as the young Lions only finished third and will be coming home early.

England 3-3 Portugal
Montaigu Tournament (U16)
24 March 2005
James Tomkins again featured for ninety minutes in Kenny Swain's England Under-16 side have drawn their second match of the Montaigu Tournament 3-3 with Portugal. In a hugely entertaining match which saw both sides play some wonderful attacking football, either side could have taken away all three points but in the end England were thankful for an injury-time equaliser which keeps alive their chances of contesting the final on Monday. The Three Lions took the lead in the match on 26 minutes when captain Josh Walker scored, capping off a fine first half display from the Middlesbrough player. Portugal equalised five minutes later when Bruno Matias beat Andreas Arestidou with a cool finish and then the Portuguese took the lead just after half-time when Ricardo Pereira converted a well-delivered cross. Portugal didn't have long to enjoy their lead, though, as Daniel Sturridge scored his first goal of the campaign on 55 minutes. The Manchester City youngster was one of England's best players in the Victory Shield and his goal was richly deserved for all his efforts up front against a very well organised Portuguese defence. England fell behind for the second time in the match when Hugo Silva scored for Portugal. It looked like Portugal were going to hold on to give themselves a second win in as many games and a real chance of making it through to the final, but Manchester United forward Michael Nardiello came to England's rescue in the nick of time. With two minutes of injury time having already elapsed, substitute Nardiello scored with a lovely finish to give England the lifeline they needed and a deserved share of the points.

England: Andreas Arestidou, Josh Walker (c), Lee Molyneux (Jack Cork, 76), James Tomkins, Febian Brandy, Jamie Chandler (Joshua Wright, 64), Daniel Sturridge, John Paul Kissock (Jake Thompson, 52), Matt Richards (Michael Nardiello, 52), Joe Magunda (Lee Sawyer, 72)
Substitutes: Ben Amos, Sone Aluko, Paul Rodgers

England 2-1 Cameroon
Montaigu Tournament
Chantonnay
26 March 2005
England won their final match in Group B but were unlucky with results elsewhere as, in a tight section, Kenny Swain's side finished third in the table. After watching Cameroon dictate play for much of the opening 20 minutes, England suddenly turned the game around with two fine goals either side of half-time. Manchester United's Michael Nardiello, who scored against Portugal on Thursday, got England's first of the afternoon with a fine finish on 34 minutes and then six minutes after the interval, Daniel Sturridge put England 2-0 up. Sturridge, who plays at Manchester City, had also scored against Portugal on Thursday and the two goal-scorers caused havoc with the Cameroon defence throughout the match. Cameroon pulled a goal back with nine minutes remaining, but England held on and they will now play Ivory Coast in a match to decide fifth and sixth places.

England: Andreas Arestidou, Josh Walker, Jack Cork, Jake Thompson (James Tomkins, 49), Daniel Sturridge, Michael Nardiello, Sone Aluko (Febian Brandy, 75), John Paul Kissock (Jamie Chandler, 54), Paul Rodgers (Lee Molyneux, 61), Josh Wright (Lee Sawyer, 54), Joe Magunda