Report: England CP 3-0 Netherlands

Sam Dewhirst scored a hat-trick as England beat the Netherlands 3-0 to book their place in the final of the IFCPF European Championship against Ukraine.

Dewhirst scored just before half-time and twice more during the second period as a clinical performance produced a victory for the Para Lions at Loughborough University.

England started on the front foot, Harry Baker’s header nestling in the side-netting after five minutes.

A couple of minutes later, Giles Moore produced a huge save as Sem Matthijs van Heiden ran clear but saw his poked effort stopped.

Matt Crossen then missed a similar opportunity for the Para Lions, a superb run putting him clear but the finish too close to the goalkeeper.

Dewhirst was next to challenge Netherlands stopper Damian Schellekens, but his volley was too weak.

A period of slow possession followed as the Netherlands kept the ball but weren’t able to create too much - and England threatened next, Mason Dunbar firing over the top after 20 minutes.

Bruno Barathe did get a shot away at the other end a couple of minutes later, but it was comfortably saved by Moore.

On 24 minutes, however, it was England who made the breakthrough.

Liam Irons’ cross-field pass was nodded down by Matt Robinson, and Dewhirst was there to tap in and give his side a goal advantage.

Barathe fired over again before the break but England took the one-goal lead into half-time.

Five minutes into the second half, Dewhirst was at it again.

Netherlands failed to deal with a bouncing ball and the number eight crept around the back to slam in a second for England and put them in a formidable position.

Schellekens denied Dunbar after 38 minutes before Robinson hit the bar with a cross-shot.

England were running riot and soon enough won the chance to make it three as Irons surged away from the Dutch defence and was bundled over by Barathe inside the box.

Dewhirst stepped up and completed a superb hat-trick by sending the keeper the wrong way.

The three-goal hero could have had a fourth but rolled wide when left in space from close range inside the Dutch box.

Moore was called into action on a couple of occasions from there, but Andy Smith's side did a fine job of preserving their lead and booking their place in Saturday's final.

England: 1 Giles Moore, 2 Liam Irons, 3 Mason Dunbar, 5 Harry Baker, 6 Matthew Crossen, 8 Sam Dewhirst, 14 Matt Robinson

Subs: 12 Jayden Kenyon for Robinson 53', 4 Cailen Beckford for Crossen 60'

Unused subs: 13 Reegan McMillan, 7 James Blackwell, 9 David Porcher, 10 Aaron Lucas, 11 Corey Komorowski

Head coach: Andy Smith