Published 10 November 2023 3 min read
Women's U17
Report: England WU17s 6-0 Belgium
Draper and Jones at the double as Young Lionesses top the group with emphatic victory over Belgium.
Having already secured their progression to the second round of UEFA Women’s U17 EURO qualifying thanks to wins over Hungary and Northern Ireland, England women’s under-17s rounded off their Group A6 campaign superbly with a 6-0 win against Belgium on Friday 10 November.
The Young Lionesses went ahead in the 12th minute when a Belgium pass was intercepted and played into Denny Draper, who finished well into the bottom-left corner.
Just three minutes later England’s one-goal lead became two, with Vera Jones continuing her goalscoring form to double her side’s advantage.
Belgium keeper Aude Waldbillig was called upon a few times throughout the first half and saved well when Erica Parkinson unleashed a shot from the edge of the area, keeping the scoreline 2-0 at the break.
Shortly after half time, Southampton’s Sophie Harwood received the ball on the edge of the box, took one touch and fired a left-footed shot past the goalkeeper to increase the Young Lionesses’ lead to 3-0.
Three became four in the 57th minute when Vera Jones slotted under the keeper from close range to double her tally for the day, before a mix-up in the Belgium defence provided Denny Draper with an opportunity to net her second of the game and England’s fifth just 11 minutes later.
The Young Lionesses went ahead in the 12th minute when a Belgium pass was intercepted and played into Denny Draper, who finished well into the bottom-left corner.
Just three minutes later England’s one-goal lead became two, with Vera Jones continuing her goalscoring form to double her side’s advantage.
Belgium keeper Aude Waldbillig was called upon a few times throughout the first half and saved well when Erica Parkinson unleashed a shot from the edge of the area, keeping the scoreline 2-0 at the break.
Shortly after half time, Southampton’s Sophie Harwood received the ball on the edge of the box, took one touch and fired a left-footed shot past the goalkeeper to increase the Young Lionesses’ lead to 3-0.
Three became four in the 57th minute when Vera Jones slotted under the keeper from close range to double her tally for the day, before a mix-up in the Belgium defence provided Denny Draper with an opportunity to net her second of the game and England’s fifth just 11 minutes later.
Refusing to rest on their five-goal lead, Natalie Henderson’s side continued to create chances and went further ahead in the 89th minute when Isabella Fisher poked home a low cross to round off another impressive display.
The top three teams in each of the seven groups within League A will now have the chance to qualify for the UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship in round two of qualification, where they will be joined in mini-groups by the top teams from the groups in League B.
A second round of qualifying will then take place in early 2024, with the seven group winners joining hosts Sweden in the finals in May.
England: 1 Hope McSheffrey (Arsenal), 2 Nelly Las (Leicester City), 3 Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa), 4 Laila Harbert (Arsenal/Watford) ©, 5 Jessica Pegram (Brighton & Hove Albion), 6 Cecily Wellesley-Smith (Oxford United), 7 Erica Parkinson (FC Valadares), 8 Sophie Harwood (Southampton), 9 Denny Draper (Leicester City), 10 Vera Jones (Barry Town), 11 Lola Brown (Chelsea)
Substitutes: 20 Mia Endacott (Plymouth Argyle/Bristol City) for Nelly Las 60, 19 Isabella Fisher (Arsenal) for Denny Draper 69, 14 Emily Cassap (Sunderland) for Erica Parkinson 69, 18 Eva Hendle (Chelsea) for Lola Brown 76, 12 Scarlett Hill (Manchester United) for Sophie Harwood 76
Substitutes not used: 15 Simone Sherwood (Leicester City)
Head coach: Natalie Henderson
Goals: Denny Draper 12, 68, Vera Jones 15, 57, Sophie Harwood 47, Isabella Fisher 89
The top three teams in each of the seven groups within League A will now have the chance to qualify for the UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship in round two of qualification, where they will be joined in mini-groups by the top teams from the groups in League B.
A second round of qualifying will then take place in early 2024, with the seven group winners joining hosts Sweden in the finals in May.
England: 1 Hope McSheffrey (Arsenal), 2 Nelly Las (Leicester City), 3 Rachel Maltby (Aston Villa), 4 Laila Harbert (Arsenal/Watford) ©, 5 Jessica Pegram (Brighton & Hove Albion), 6 Cecily Wellesley-Smith (Oxford United), 7 Erica Parkinson (FC Valadares), 8 Sophie Harwood (Southampton), 9 Denny Draper (Leicester City), 10 Vera Jones (Barry Town), 11 Lola Brown (Chelsea)
Substitutes: 20 Mia Endacott (Plymouth Argyle/Bristol City) for Nelly Las 60, 19 Isabella Fisher (Arsenal) for Denny Draper 69, 14 Emily Cassap (Sunderland) for Erica Parkinson 69, 18 Eva Hendle (Chelsea) for Lola Brown 76, 12 Scarlett Hill (Manchester United) for Sophie Harwood 76
Substitutes not used: 15 Simone Sherwood (Leicester City)
Head coach: Natalie Henderson
Goals: Denny Draper 12, 68, Vera Jones 15, 57, Sophie Harwood 47, Isabella Fisher 89
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