England 3-0 Australia
Cerebral Palsy 7-a-side World Championship
Rio de Janiero 2007
Group B: England/Wales, Brazil, Australia, South Africa

If a team wins by three goals and a player scores a hat-trick in the process, it is usually safe to assume that he will be made Man of the Match, but not on this occasion.

Wayne Ward's three goals in the final nine minutes settled this tie but it was the heroic performance of Gavin Wood in goal that won all the accolades.

England made an edgy start against an Australia side intent on using a physical and direct approach to disrupt their passing game. They were still trying to gain a grip on the match when the referee awarded a penalty to the Aussies. Enter Gavin Wood.

The giant 'keeper blocked the spot-kick with ease and then delivered save upon save as England conceded many chances to a fast-breaking Australian side.

At the other end England put together a number of chances of their own, thumping the woodwork three times before the break. Against the odds the half-time score was goalless.

England began the second period brightly, moving the ball faster and opening up spaces in the opposition. However, this domination was shortlived as errors began to punctuate their play. Wood was forced to make another series of fine saves to maintain the status quo, and when the redoubtable Ellis left the field with a shin injury, forecasts of an England victory seemed unlikely.

Then with Wood having laid the foundations for the result with his superlative display, Ward took up the baton and drove England over the victory line. First he latched on to a bobbling ball in the box to poach a striker's goal, next he intercepted a stray pass to drill under the 'keeper and with the final kick of the game he finished off a wonderful move involving Barker and Fox.

The final whistle brought a wave of relief , and the knowledge that should England beat South Africa on Friday they will have qualified for the Quarter Finals.

England: Gavin Wood, Matthew Ellis, Gary Davies, Richard Fox, Junior Gordon, Michael Barker, Wayne Ward

Subs: Jordan Raynes, Andrew Taylor, Michael Wilson, Nick Jackson, Stephen Brown

TheFA.com will be following the progress of England's CP side over the coming week, and bringing you all the news from Brazil.