06.03.08 NORTHERN IRELAND 0 - 2 ENGLAND

[Source: IFA website]

NORTHERN Ireland’s Women put up a brave display before going down 2-0 to a star-studded England in their Euro 2009 qualifier tonight (Thursday) at Mourneview Park.

England, with a 100% record so far in the campaign, opened the scoring after 19 minutes when Everton's Fara Williams slotted the ball home from a Rachel Yankey pass. But they had to wait until six minutes from time to grab their second when skipper Faye White finished well after Lindsay Johnson had cut the ball back into her path.

Northern Ireland might have fallen behind inside the opening ten minutes when Una Harkin brought down Kelly Smith to concede a penalty only for 'keeper Emma Higgins to save both Smith's spot-kick and the subsequent follow-up. Indeed, the English frontline found Higgins almost impossible to beat. She was to deny Smith again after 15 minutes from a teasing Williams cross and once more early in the second half while Ashley Hutton and Julie Nelson also earned plaudits for some dogged defending to keep their illustrious opponents at bay.

Northern Ireland: Emma Higgins, Aine McGovern, Kelly Baillie, Ashley Hutton, Julie Nelson, Una Harkin, Helen McKenna, Kimberley Turner, Sarah McFadden, Sara Booth, Demi Vance subs Angela Platt (not used), Rebecca Corish (replaced Booth 46), Laura Gillespie (not used), Nadene Caldwell (not used), Amy McCann (replaced McFadden 83), Clare Carson (not used), Lynsey Patterson (not used)