Stylish England ease past Norway

England got off to a flying start in UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship Group B with a 3-1 defeat of Norway at the Julivallen stadium in Höganäs.

First win
The victory, England's first over the Norwegians at this level, was built on a superb second-half display in which Shelly Cox, who excelled throughout both defensively and as a bridge to the attack, and Kelly McDougall added to Michelle Hickmott's early opening goal. Silje Kopke da Fonseca struck Norway's consolation with a powerful effort in the 38th minute.

Confident start
Mo Marley's side began confidently against more experienced opposition and Jessica-Emily Anne Wright signalled England's intent with a powerful strike in the second minute which Silje Vesterbekkmo, the Norway goalkeeper, gathered comfortably. A minute later Vesterbekkmo was beaten, however, as Hickmott pounced from close range after the keeper spilled a vicious drive from Katy Ward.

Fine wing play
Even though Norway played with an extra player in midfield, leaving Reidun Nilsen to plough a lonely furrow in attack, it was the English who had the upper hand in midfield, particularly on the flanks where Alex Scott, playing only her third international at this level, and Hickmott were attacking with skill and pace.

Excellent vision
Norway slowly hauled themselves back into the game and only a last-gasp tackle from England goalkeeper Toni-Anne Wayne, after she initially looked beaten, denied Nilsen a clear shot on goal in the 31st minute. Six minutes later parity was even closer to being restored as Marit Lyngroth fired narrowly over after Nilsen had shown excellent vision to set her free.

Wonderful free-kick
In the 38th minute the goal finally came as Fonseca skilfully drove the ball beyond Wayne after Laura Basset had headed a corner from Lise-Marie Woods into her path. The goal failed to spur Norway on to greater things after the break, though, and it was England who moved ahead again seven minutes after the restart. Katy Ward was felled on the edge of the Norwegian penalty area and Cox stepped up to drill a wonderful free-kick from 25 metres in off the bar for a richly deserved goal.

'The best feeling'
England effectively sealed the three points with a third goal in the 63rd minute. Scott's persistence won a throw on the right flank which was received by the increasingly influential Ellen Maggs. The slight striker whipped in a teasing centre which McDougall trapped and coolly slipped into the corner of the Norway net from five metres. The 18-year-old said afterwards "it was the best feeling in the world when it went in".

'Excellent start'
Marley was delighted with the mature showing of her young side. "It was a brilliant achievement reaching the finals for the first time but now we are here we have set ourselves a target of winning every game," said the England coach. "Today was an excellent start to the competition and the game. We usually concede early but managed a turnaround here and that settled us down."

Second-half domination
The key to England's second-half domination, Marley felt, was in calming the players down during half-time. "We are a young team and the players need a lot of coaching from the touchline," added the England coach. "We settled them down a bit at the break, asked them who they felt was the better team and then decided that the best form of defence was attack."

'We have no excuses'
Jarl Torske, the Norway coach, was magnanimous in defeat. "All credit to the English," he said. "We have no excuses as they deserved to win. They showed good speed in attack and were aggressive but it was a disappointing display from us. We did get back into the game after the equaliser but they came at us after the break and I never felt that we would win."