Northern Ireland 0-5 England

England are one point away from a World Cup berth after defeating Northern Ireland 5-0 in their sold-out Windsor Park qualifier.

A record Northern Ireland women’s crowd of 15, 348 were on hand to cheer on the home side, who defended valiantly but couldn’t hold back the dominant visitors, who saw an on-form Lauren Hemp net on either side of the break.

Ella Toone added another in the second half before Georgia Stanway’s brace made it a five-goal advantage for the visitors.

The Lionesses will face Northern Ireland again in the EURO 2022 group stages before their qualifying campaign continues against second-placed Group D rivals Austria in September.

Sarina Wiegman's side had to earn the right to play in the opening stages though and it took a well-worked ball from Stanway to find Ellen White in a good position in the box, but the Manchester City striker was left visibly frustrated after failing to nod in an early opener at the near post.

Two chances in quick succession followed, with Beth Mead evading home keeper Jackie Burns only to see her effort cleared off the line by a stealthy Sarah McFadden.

And the Lionesses couldn’t capitalise after the ball bounced off a defender and found its way into the path of Toone, whose curled attempt missed well wide.

McFadden once again proved vital in clearing her side’s lines as the Lionesses continued to dominate possession, the home crowd roaring each time a green shirt crossed into England’s half with the ball.

Finally England found their breakthrough, with Hemp taking advantage of Burns’ missed clearance and picking up a pass from Toone at an odd angle. The Manchester City star herself looked somewhat surprised as her lightly-looped effort sailed over Burns’ head and into the top right corner.

And the home keeper appeared to make a fine save soon after, diving to swat away an attempt from White before the offside flag was raised.

Northern Ireland worked the ball back into England’s half, but newly-minted EURO 2022 captain Leah Williamson was there to head the ball back to awaiting keeper Mary Earps.

With the Lionesses firmly back on the front foot, Lucy Bronze crossed to Hemp, who couldn’t double her opening effort, nodding inches over the woodwork.

A late press from Northern Ireland roused the crowd but couldn’t yield a shot on goal before the break.

And England continued to tire out the hosts as play resumed, Bronze feeding Toone from the edge of the box and the Manchester United star responding with a clinical finish to double England’s lead.

The stands weren’t silenced for long as Joely Andrews, making her first international start for the home side, made a good run into England’s half to feed Lauren Wade, who half-turned before firing an effort into the arms of Earps for the hosts’ best chance of the match.

But moments later Hemp struck again, this time from a perfectly-placed Williamson through-ball that allowed the on-rushing Hemp to slot in the Lionesses’ third before Toone turned provider for Stanway to give England a four-goal advantage on 70 minutes.

And Stanway added her second nine minutes later, sending a strike into the bottom right to put the game away.

England (4-3-3): 1 Mary Earps (Manchester United); 2 Lucy Bronze (Manchester City); 3 Jess Carter (Chelsea); 4 Keira Walsh (Manchester City); 5 Leah Williamson (c) (Arsenal); 6 Millie Bright (Chelsea); 7 Beth Mead (Arsenal); 8 Georgia Stanway (Manchester City); 9 Ellen White (Manchester City); 10 Ella Toone (Manchester United); 11 Lauren Hemp (Manchester City)

Substitutes used: 20 Bethany England (Chelsea) for White 65’; 12 Rachel Daly (Houston Dash) for Carter 66’; 17 Nikita Parris (Arsenal) for Mead 71’; 18 Jordan Nobbs (Arsenal) for Stanway 87’

Substitutes not used: 13 Hannah Hampton (gk) (Aston Villa); 14 Katie Zelem (Manchester United); 15 Gabby George (Everton); 16 Demi Stokes (Manchester City); 19 Alessia Russo (Manchester United); 21 Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City); 22 Niamh Charles (Chelsea)

Head coach: Sarina Wiegman

Goals: Lauren Hemp 25’, 60’; Toone 52’; Stanway 70’, 79’

Northern Ireland (5-3-2): 1 Jackie Burns (Lee University); 22 Abbie Magee (Linfield); 5 Julie Nelson (Crusaders Strikers); 4 Sarah McFadden (Durham); 3 Demi Vance (Rangers); 13 Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville); 8 Marissa Callaghan (c) (Cliftonville); 10 Rachel Furness (Liverpool); 20 Joely Andrews (Glentoran); 9 Simone Magill (Everton); 14 Lauren Wade (Glentoran)

Substitutes: 7 Chloe McCarron (Glentoran) for Furness 61’; 11 Kirsty McGuinness (Cliftonville) for Wade 61’; 16 Nadene Caldwell (Glentoran) for Andrews 75’; 2 Rebecca McKenna (Lewes) for Burrows 75’; 5 Caragh Hamilton (Glentoran) for Magee 82’

Substitutes not used: 12 Becky Flaherty (gk) (Huddersfield Town); 17 Toni Leigh Finnegan (Cliftonville); 6 Rebecca Holloway (Racing Louisville); 18 Megan Bell (Rangers); 21 Kerry Beattie (Glentoran); 119 Emily Wilson (Crusaders Strikers)

Manager: Kenny Shiels

Bookings: Demi Vance 73’

Referee: Riem Hussein

Attendance: 15,348