Report: England WU19s 6-1 Wales

England women’s under-19s continued their UEFA U19 EURO qualifying campaign with an impressive 6-1 win over Wales in Cardiff.

The result means Amy Merricks’ side made it two victories from two games, following their 2-0 win over Greece on Tuesday, thanks to a brace from Mia Enderby and second-half strikes from Lexi Potter, Katy Watson, Lexi Potter, Poppy Pritchard and Ava Baker.

The Young Lionesses had to show their character too, after falling behind to an early goal from Welsh defender Rebecca Guy after just ten minutes of the game. 

But England played their way back into the game and equalised just before the half-hour mark when Enderby scored with a penalty to send the teams in level at the break.

Merricks made two substitutions for the second half, with Maddy Earl and Potter coming on, and England soon found their rhythm again.

Enderby put her side ahead seven minutes after the restart following a mazy dribble into the box before producing  a neat finish to make it 2-1.

Ten minutes later, Watson gave England a two-goal advantage by firing emphatically home after getting on the end of Pritchard’s cross.

Potter then made it 4-1 after collecting a pass from Pritchard before dispatching a shot over the ‘keeper and in off the bottom of the bar.

After her two assists, Pritchard also got her name on the scoresheet after firing home when Wales goalkeeper Soffia Kelly had saved Lois Marley-Paraskevas’ initial effort.

With the game deep into stoppage time, England made it six when substitute Baker chipped home a clever finish after being set up by another second-half replacement in Freya Godfrey.

England will be back in action on Monday when they tackle Czechia in their final match of the qualifying group (11am GMT).

England: 1 Katie Cox (Chelsea), 3 Cerys Brown (Chelsea), 4 Ashanti Akpan (Chelsea), 6 Lucy Newell (Manchester United, dual registered with West Bromwich Albion), 8 Shauna Guyatt (Crystal Palace) ©, 2 Lois Marley-Paraskevas (Manchester City, dual registered with Burnley), 14 Poppy Pritchard (Durham), 16 Jemima Dahou (Manchester City, dual registered with Blackburn Rovers), 17 Mia Enderby (Liverpool), 18 Katy Watson (Sunderland), 19 Mari Ward (Bristol City)

Substitutes:  10 Maddy Earl (Arsenal) for Guyatt 46, 15 Alexia Potter (Chelsea, dual registered with Crystal Palace) for Dahou 46, 2 Ria Bose (Chelsea) for Brown 65, 7 Freya Godfrey (Arsenal, loan to Charlton Athletic) for Enderby 65, 11 Ava Baker (Leicester City) for Pritchard 75

Substitutes not used:  5 Evie Rabjohn (Manchester United), 9 Georgia Mullett (Aston Villa), 13 Eve Annets (Reading), 20 Katie Reid (Arsenal, dual registered with Watford)

Head coach: Amy Merricks

Goals: Mia Enderby 27 (p), 52, Katy Watson 62, Lexi Potter 70, Poppy Pritchard 72, Ava Baker 90+8