England’s Schoolgirls got their training camp off to a winning start with a 2-0 win over UVVA in Utrecht on Sunday afternoon.
After a weather affected journey to the Netherlands it was a bright and early start for the trip North but there was no sign of tiredness as the girls began the game on the front foot.
Tori Almond and Kate Oakley had already seen goals chalked off for offside before Almond finally took advantage of a through ball to skip round the keeper and roll the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead.
With the strong wind causing a few problems it was England who could have extended their lead before the break but Isabelle Wade just failed to connect with her header when a cross held up in the wind 8 yards out.
The second half saw a number of changes to the team but with a swirling wind in their face the chances for free flowing football were few and far between and the home side could have drawn level with a wind assisted shot that clipped the outside of the post.
It was left for two of the substitutes, Lucy Cooper and Megan Sofield, to settle the result late on when the former forced the Dutch defence into a mistake which allowed her to cross for Sofield to side foot home from 6 yards out.
All in all a satisfactory afternoon’s work for the girls who ended the afternoon with a tour of the KNVB Campus, home of the Dutch National football teams, before returning to their hotel to relax before their next game on Tuesday evening.
Photo Credit: 353 Photography
The National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England.