England 3-1 South Africa
Thursday 30 June 2005

England scored a deserved victory over South Africa in their first group game of the World Championships.

After a cagey opening Michael Wilson's driven corner skipped off the wet turf and into the net to put England a goal up.

As half time approached England gained the two goal advantage. Ben Nash was upended as he broke into the box and amidst the unsuccessful penalty shouts and desperate lunges, South Africa gave away a free kick 20 yards from goal.

Without a hint of nerves Micheal Barker stroded up to smash an unstoppable serving shot passed the startled keeper.

Midway through the second half, concentration levels in the England midfield and back line fell, allowing attacking midfielder Cristo Titus to squirt a low shot under the body of Leon Taylor.

The goal forced England into a period of ragged and nervous play, but subs, Steve Prior and Dominic Benn injected additional energy into the side, and with four minutes to play, England reclaimed a two goal advantage.

Cutting in from the right Michael Barker glided past two challenges, before slotting a precise left foot shot low to the goal keeper's left. A magical goal to cap a memorable debut.

England 4-1 Spain
Friday 01 July 2005 

England cruised into the second phase of the CP World Championships with a mature display against Spain.

The Three Lions began brightly, but Spain were nothing if not resilient and limited England to just one clear chance in the early exchanges, Michael Barker blasting over when well placed.

A stalemate seemed the most likley half-time outcome until Richard Fox, prominent throughout, clipped a delicious chip from the angle of the box over the transfixed keeper and into the net.

The tight nature of the first period gave no inkling as to the exhibition England were about to deliver in the second. Clearly boosted by Fox's goal, England's young lions mauled the tiring Spanish with some fine attacking play.

Nobody exemplfied the team's adventure more than the inspirational debutant Jordan Smith who was excellent in both holding up the ball and in pulling th Spanish defence out of shape.

This good work was capitalised upon by Michael Barker who produced a trademark messmeric run and shot for the second, and by Michael Wilson who fired in identical searing left foot drives for the third and fourth.

A late Nash own goal failed to take the gloss off this performane, in which all 4 goals were scored by teenagers!

England 0-7 Ukraine
Sunday 03 July 2005

England entered their final group game in good heart on the back of wins against SA and Spain.

Their confidence however was tempered by a cautious realism that, as a relativley inexperienced team, they were taking on the reigning World, European and Olympic Champions, who hadn't been beaten in a competitive match for 3 years.

This caution proved well founded as Paul Harrison's men were pulled to and fro by the incisive and well rehearsed passing patterns of their Eastern European opponents.

Having survived the first eight minutes of play through resolute defence, England shipped four goals in the next eight as Ukraine underlined their status as the world's best team.

To their credit the England players galvanised by captain Davies and Steve Prior in goal, managed to largley nullify the Ukrainian threat in the second half, even creating a couple of half-chances for Michael Barker which passed narrowly wide.

Although a further two goals we're conceeded, Steve Prior enhanced his reputation as one of the best keepers in the tournament with one world class save and a succession of other quality stops.

For the team and the coaching staff this was a learning experience about the standard of play required to be the world's number one team. A learning experience which should prove invaluable in preparing for the second phase and matches against Holland, Argentina, and Russia.