I chose the right time to score, admits Elliot

HEARTS striker Calum Elliot fired Scotland into the final of the Under-19 European Championships and then admitted there was no better time to bag his first goal of the tournament.

The Tynecastle frontman headed in off the post from 14 yards after a cut-back from Jamie Adams just two minutes after the restart in Grodzisk Wielkopolski and, despite sustained pressure from the Czech Republic, the Scots managed to hang on for a memorable victory.

Elliot had been struggling for fitness since arriving in Poland just over a week ago, a hamstring strain forcing him off in the defeat to Spain but he was back on form last night and was delighted to finally break his duck. "It was a relief to get my first goal of the tournament but the main thing was just to get through to the final," he said.

"We had a few chances before the break but kept working hard and when we got another chance we took it.

"Hopefully we can do better against Spain than we did last week."

However Hibs kid Steven Fletcher will miss out on Saturday's final against the impressive Spaniards after picking up his second booking of the tournament - referee Herve Piccirillo harshly yellow carding the player for diving when it seemed clear to everyone else in the stadium he had done his best to stay on his feet.

Scotland coach Tommy Wilson admitted he would be appealing against the card, although he doesn't hold out much hope of the decision being reversed: "It's unfortunate with Fletch, it looked like he slipped. We're going to look at it, but they don't usually change decisions."

The Spaniards crushed Austria 5-0 in their semi-final, Javi García scored twice with the other goals coming from Jeffrén Suárez, Juan Mata and Alberto Bueno.

Gemmill's Scots dominated the opening exchanges against the more-fancied Czechs. Fletcher was put through on goal but stood on the ball with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Scotland were nearly caught on the break but Hibs goalkeeper Andrew McNeill did well to turn a Martin Fenin volley from 16 yards over the bar.

McNeill's Czech counterpart, Radek Petr, did well at the other end to block at the feet of Michael McGlinchey after the midfielder was played through by Elliot. McNeill was then fortunate to see a Marek Strestik header drift over after he failed to gather a cross.

A Fletcher free-kick was blocked clear by Petr, while McNeill followed suit to deny Fenin from close range after again failing to gather a cross.

A head injury forced Fletcher to be replaced by Robert Snodgrass at half-time. And, within two minutes of the restart, Scotland were ahead, Elliot heading home after Adams had latched on to a free-kick to direct the ball back into the danger area.

Petr Janda missed a great chance to equalise, driving the ball into the side netting from just six yards under pressure from McNeill after a goalmouth scramble.

McNeill was again on hand to block an effort from Marek Jungr from point-blank range but the Scots held on fairly comfortably to set up their first final at this level since 1982.

Taken from the Scotsman