England women’s under-23s were cruelly denied victory over the Netherlands after a last-minute free-kick meant they had to settle for a 1-1 draw in Escharen.

The Young Lionesses had much the better of much of the game, particularly dominating the first half and taking the lead through Laura Blindkilde Brown.

But having seemingly survived more second-half pressure from their hosts, Fenna Kalma struck from just outside the box with the last kick of the match.

The hosts created the first chance of the game, Lotja de Keijzer producing a good save from Fran Stenson, but the Young Lionesses bossed proceedings from there.

Michelle Agyemang curled just wide after eight minutes before Anouk Denton embarked on a superb run from left-back and fed Agyemeng, who was marginally offside.

The deadlock was broken in the 19th minute, though, when Blindkilde Brown calmly slotted home after good build-up play from Denton, Freya Gregory and Agyemang.

Agyemang continued to cause all sorts of problems upfront, forcing a good block from a goal-bound shot on 24 minutes, impressively teeing up Katie Robinson for an effort 10 minutes out from half-time, and going close again with a superb individual effort a few moments later.

Emma Coates’ side picked up where they left off in the second period, with excellent work from Olivia McLoughlin and Robinson down the right leading to a dangerous cross that was cleared before an England forward could turn it in.

Robinson did go close again when forcing a good save from an effort in the 71st minute but the Dutch were growing into the game and struck the woodwork with a header eight minutes later.

Three minutes were added on to the 90 and just as the Young Lionesses seemed set to celebrate a job very well done, Fenna Kalma curled home a free-kick with the last kick of the game to secure an equaliser.

England: 1 Fran Stenson (Southampton), 2 Olivia McLoughlin (Rangers), 3 Anouk Denton (West Ham), 4 Ruby Mace (Leicester City), 5 Hannah Silcock (Liverpool), 6 Tara Bourne (Southampton), 7 Katie Robinson (Aston Villa), 8 Missy Bo Kearns (Aston Villa), 9 Michelle Agyemang (Brighton & Hove Albion), 10 Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), 11 Freya Gregory (Southampton)

Substitutes: 15 Brooke Aspin (Crystal Palace) for Silcock 71’, 16 Lucia Kendall (Southampton) for Gregory 71’, 18 Mia Enderby (Liverpool) for Agyemang 78’

Substitutes not used: 12, Lucy Parry (Liverpool), 13 Kayla Rendell (Southampton), 14 Teyah Goldie (London City Lionesses), 17 Ruby Grant (BK Hacken), 19 Isobel Goodwin (London City Lionesses), 20 Freya Godfrey (Arsenal), 21 Lenna Gunning-Williams (Tottenham Hotspur), 22 Fran Bentley (Bristol City), 23 Ashanti Akpan (Birmingham City)

Goal: Laura Blindkilde Brown 19’

Head coach: Emma Coates