Report: France 0-1 England WU23s

Katie Robinson’s first-half strike was enough to secure victory for England women’s under-23s away to France.

Great work from in-form Chelsea striker Aggie Beever-Jones created the opening which would ultimately decide the contest at Clairefontaine as England scored inside the opening ten minutes.

Senior international Jess Park had the first shot of the game when she dragged an effort wide but the visitors took the lead a minute later.

Beever-Jones put the defence under pressure following a goal kick and she intercepted a poor backpass before laying the ball back to Robinson to thump into the empty net from close range.

Emily Ramsey, who had already saved a Kessya Bussy shot from distance, produced a superb stop midway through the half when she pawed away Bussy’s header from point-blank range at the far post.

England had a glorious chance to extend their lead when Ramsey gathered the ball following a dangerous France attack and immediately sent Ebony Salmon free but just as the Aston Villa striker was about to pull the trigger, the France defender recovered well to tackle.

There was a similarly impressive intervention from Naomi Layzell at the other end following a mazy run by captain Laurina Fazer.

France’s Lou-Ann Joly and Beever-Jones both had shots saved in the opening 20 minutes of the second period, while Joly and Bussy also sent efforts over the bar as the half wore on.

Ramsey had to make an excellent save in the final ten minutes as she tipped away a Zoe Stievenart shot and France also could have scored during injury-time had it not been for a last-ditch tackle by Ella Morris and Kiera Skeels clearing a goal-bound effort but England held on for the win.

The WU23s’ attention will now turn to Monday’s home match against Spain, which will be taking place at the home of Burton Albion at 7pm GMT, with tickets still on sale priced at just £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.

England: 1 Emily Ramsey (Everton), 2 Ella Morris (Southampton), 3 Poppy Pattinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), 4 Ruby Mace (Manchester City), 5 Naomi Layzell (Bristol City), 6 Kiera Skeels (Charlton Athletic), 7 Katie Robinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), 8 Missy Bo Kearns (Liverpool) ©, 9 Aggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea), 10 Jessica Park (Manchester City), 11 Ebony Salmon (Aston Villa)

Substitutes: 12 Laura Blindkilde Brown (Aston Villa) for Park 66, 14 Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur) for Salmon 90

Substitutes not used: 13 Lucy Thomas (Birmingham City), 15 Freya Gregory (Reading, on loan from Aston Villa), 16 Mia Ross (Charlton Athletic), 17 Lucia Kendall (Southampton), 18 Asmita Ale (Tottenham Hotspur), 19 Maisie Symonds (Brighton & Hove Albion), 20 Hannah Silcock (Blackburn Rovers, loan from Liverpool), 21 Neve Herron (Birmingham City), 22 Annie Hutchings (Blackburn Rovers, dual registration with Manchester City)

Head coach: Emma Coates

Goals: Katie Robinson 9