England WU19s end Marbella International Tournament with victory against Denmark

England women’s under-19s made it two wins from two in the Marbella International Tournament with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Denmark.

The Young Lionesses have played two matches during their time in Spain and today’s win at the Marbella Football Center comes after Thursday’s 4-0 victory over Finland at the Estadio Municipa Ciudad de La Linea.

England took an early lead against Denmark on Tuesday evening when Leicester City winger Freya Gregory stole the ball on the left-hand side and delivered a pinpoint cross to the penalty spot, leaving the arriving Emily Murphy to send a bullet header into the bottom corner and beyond the reach of the Danish goalkeeper Sofie Grøn.

The Young Lionesses almost doubled their advantage just before the break when Gregory ghosted past two central defenders and curled a shot beyond the outstretched arm of the ‘keeper, only to see it strike the base of the post and Murphy was unable to capitalise on the rebound.

It was Denmark who would score the next goal though as England failed to clear and Nikoline Dudek sent a looping header past Manchester City goalkeeper Khiara Keating seven minutes into the second half.

But England restored their lead when substitute Aggie Beever-Jones made an immediate impact to stoop low and head in Maisie Symonds’ free-kick midway through the second period.

Gemma Davies’ side almost added a third inside the final ten minutes when Grøn was forced into a triple save but the Young Lionesses had to settle for a 2-1 win.

England: Khiara Keating (Manchester City), Olivia McLoughlin (Aston Villa), Teyah Goldie (Watford, dual-signed with Arsenal), Caitlin Smith (Clemson University), Jorja Fox (Charlton Athletic, on loan from Chelsea), Lucia Kendall (Southampton), Maisie Symonds (Brighton & Hove Albion) ©, Laura Blindkilde Brown (Aston Villa), Freya Gregory (Leicester City, on loan from Aston Villa), Emily Murphy (University of North Carolina), Missy Goodwin (Leicester City)

Substitutes: Emma Thompson (Chelsea) for Murphy 45’, Charley Docherty (Nottingham Forest, dual-signed with Sheffield United) for Fox 45’, Grace Clinton (Everton) for Kendall 62’, Aggie Beever-Jones (Bristol City, on loan from Chelsea) for Goodwin 62’, Anouk Denton (University of Louisville) for Gregory 70’, Charlotte Wardlaw (Liverpool, on loan from Chelsea) for Symonds 79’

Substitutes not used: Natalia Negri (Charlton, dual-signed with Arsenal), Elysia Boddy (Leicester City), Tara Bourne (Blackburn Rovers, on loan from Manchester United), Neve Herron (Sunderland), Halle Houssein (West Ham United, dual-signed with Arsenal), Ruby Mace (Manchester City), Lois Moore (Everton)

Head coach: Gemma Davies

Goals: Freya Gregory 5’, Aggie Beever-Jones 68’