Esme Burge Beeston and England U21 |
Eloise Stenner Beeston and England U21 |
England 3 (1)
Esme Burge 9 (FG)
Lydia Macdonell 41 (FG)
Charlotte Daly 56 (PC)
USA 1 (1)
Erin Matson 19 (PC)
England finished their Junior World Cup campaign on a high with a well earned 3-1 win over the USA. Goals from Esme Burge, Lydia Macdonell and Charlotte Daly did the honours for Craig Keegan’s side and ensured they took seventh place in the tournament.
Both sides came into the match off the back of defeats in their previous game so it was always going to be a case of which side was able to bounce back the quicker.
USA threatened first and it was Erin Matson who had sight of goal but her effort flashed over the top. England gained control of the match in the early stages and took the lead in the ninth minute. Beeston’s Esme Burge snapped up the ball in the circle and made no mistake with an unerring finish to make it 1-0.
USA began to exert pressure of their own and forced a series of penalty corners. Matson hit one wide and Julia Young was well kept out by some fine goalkeeping from Miriam Pritchard.
After 19 minutes Janneke Schopman’s team levelled the scores. Matson, who was at the heart of all their good attacking play latched onto a penalty corner re bound and fired home the leveller.
England began to cause the States problems with Alice Wills marrying some outstanding defensive work with some marauding runs down the flanks. It was from one of these raids that Ellie Rayer had a chance but her effort flew just wide. England had a penalty corner right at the end of the half but Kelsey Bing made the save and it was all square at the break.
England got their second half off to the perfect start. MacDonnell fired an unstoppable shot across goal into the far corner to make it 2-1.
The game became a war of attrition in the middle of the field with the sides fighting tooth and nail for control of the midfield. Chances were hard to come by but England made their next clear sight count. A well worked penalty corner saw the ball slipped left to Kathryn Lane, her slapped pass picked out Daly whose deft touch got the ball over the goalkeeper to make it 3-1. There was still time for Katherine Somerville, a half-time substitute in goal for England, to make a good block from Margaux Paolino but England were not to be denied and took the win.
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