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

Gr-eight start from England

England 8 (Toone 12, White 42, pen 67, Zivikj og 45, England 77,90,
Kolarovska og 79, Mead 90)
North Macedonia 0
at Southampton F.C.
England got off to the most comfortable of starts under new manager Sarina Wiegman
as four late strikes helped carry them to a straight forward win at the St Mary's Stadium.
With Steph Houghton having dropped out through injury ahead of the game, Leah
Williamson was named as captain for the first time and Ella Toone was handed a full
debut, whilst Mary Earps was given the nod in goal.
England were on the front foot right from the start with Lauren Hemp heading
over from a Rachel Daly cross and the first goal was not too long in coming, Williamson
sliding a pass through to Toone who made no mistake for the opener.
North Macedonia's only real opportunity before the break came midway through
the half, with Ulza Maksuti latching onto a long pass before firing the ball over the bar.
After having been off the field injured for a few minutes, Toone returned to become
the provider for the second, finding Ellen White who drilled her shot into the corner of
the net from ten yards.
Two minutes later, Alex Greenwood whipped a cross into the area and in
attempting to clear, Julija Zivikj sliced the ball into her own net to make it three going
into the break.
England continued to attack from the start of the second half but needed to be
patient before the next goal came, with Dervishi bringing off a number of saves to keep
the score down.
However at the midway point of the half, the next breakthrough was finally made
as Williamson was fouled in the area and White tucked home the resulting penalty for her
second goal on the night.
Wiegman introduced a number of substitutes to give fresh impetus against rapidly
tiring opponents and the newcomers were swiftly involved, Jill Scott almost scoring with
her first touch but Beth England did so just four minutes later, heading in the loose ball
after Dervishi had clawed away the initial cross by Nikita Parris.
Another own goal from North Macedonia, this time a volley from Sara Kolarovska,
cost her side another for the Lionesses' sixth on 79 minutes and England then notched
her second goal on the night as the match went into injury time.
There was still time for England to crown the night with another goal and it was
Beth Mead who was to keep up her excellent start to the season, chasing down a long ball
and drilling home clinically into the far corner.
England: Mary Earps, Rachel Daly (sub Niamh Charles 82mins), Demi Stokes, Leah
Williamson, Millie Bright (sub Lotte Wubben-Moys 63mins), Alex Greenwood, Beth
Mead, Georgia Stanway (sub Beth England 71mins), Ellen White (sub Jill Scott
72mins), Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp (sub Nikita Parris 63mins). Subs not used: Sandy
MacIver, Carly Telford, Katie Zelem, Lucy Staniforth, Ebony Salmon, Jess Carter.
North Macedonia: Suarta Dervishi, Sindis Polozhani, Pavlina Nikolovska, Sara
Kolarovska, Gentjana Rochi, Aleksandra Markovska (sub Rabija Dervishi 45mins),
Ulza Maksuti (sub Teodora Dimoska 90mins), Natasa Andonova, Afrodita Salihi (sub
Kristina Petrushevska 79mins), Julija Zivikj, Hava Mustafa (sub Katerina Mileska for
86mins). Subs not used: Magdalena Lekovska, Verica Kolevska, Ane Bošeska, Elena
Paneska, Jana Chubrinovska, Radica Choneva, Elena Petrovska, Teodora Jankovska.
Issue no. 4 - 23 September 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk