Page 4 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.9 2021-22

Mead-ness! Beth makes England history

England 4 (Mead 64,74,78, England 72)
Northern Ireland 0
Att 23,225; at Wembley Stadium
Beth Mead came off the bench to become the first England women’s player to score a
hat-trick at Wembley Stadium to end the dogged determination of Northern Ireland
and give her side a third straight win in their World Cup qualifying group.
Kenny Shiels’ side had dug in from the start and had continued to frustrate the
home side but once Mead broke the deadlock after the hour, they went on to add three
more against their tiring opponents.
England were on the front foot from the start with Lauren Hemp crashing a shot
against the bar and Ellen White forcing a save from Jackie Burns. Alex Greenwood also
hit the bar with a strike from outside the area, whilst Burns saved from White and Fran
Kirby as Northern Ireland held on to keep the scoreline goalless at the interval.
The first opportunity of the second half went the way of Northern Ireland, with
Lauren Wade bursting down the left and crossing for the oncoming Caragh Hamilton,
who was denied as Greenwood managed to get a touch on the ball and divert it away
from her.
England pushed forward again and the excellent Burns again saved well from
Hemp but a double substitution just after the hour was to pay huge dividends.
Literally moments after coming on, and an England corner had not been cleared
by the Northern Ireland defence, Mead was able to hook a shot into the far corner with
her first touch of the ball and England were ahead.
Eight minutes later, after being found by Kirby on the left, Hemp’s cross looped
over Burns and looked destined for the back of the net, Beth England making sure from
point blank range.
Before Northern Ireland could recover, Hemp tormented them once again with
a weaving run down the left which took her away from three players before her cross
was expertly volleyed in at the far post by Mead.
England, and Mead, were not finished yet though and a remarkable 15-minute
period was completed as Ella Toone slid a neat through ball into the path of England
and although Burns did well to come off her line and smother, the ball ran loose for
Mead to slide into the empty net and complete her hat-trick.
England: Mary Earps, Rachel Daly (sub Beth Mead 64mins), Demi Stokes (sub
Keira Walsh 45mins), Leah Williamson, Millie Bright, Alex Greenwood (sub Lucy
Staniforth 80mins), Nikita Parris (sub Beth England 63mins), Fran Kirby (sub Lotte
Wubben-Moy 80mins), Ellen White, Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp. Subs not used: Sandy
MacIver, Hannah Hampton, Niamh Charles, Georgia Stanway, Jill Scott, Alessia
Russo, Jess Carter.
Northern Ireland: Jackie Burns, Rebecca McKenna, Demi Vance, Sarah
McFadden, Julie Nelson, Marissa Callaghan (sub Emily Wilson 81mins), Chloe
McCarron, Caragh Hamilton (sub Kirsty McGuinness 64mins), Kelsie Burrows (sub
Ciara Watling 73mins), Rachel Furness (sub Louise McDaniel 74mins), Lauren Wade
(sub Kerry Beattie 81mins). Subs not used: Rachel McLaren, Rebecca Flaherty,
Nadene Caldwell, Laura Rafferty, Joely Andrews, Maddison Harvey-Clifford.
Issue no. 9 - 28 October 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk