U19s start with win
Wednesday, 08 October, 2008
England enjoyed a 3-0 win over Albania at the Euro Championship Preliminary match on Wednesday.
UEFA European U19 Championship
Qualifying Round, Group 9
2pm, Wednesday 8 October 2008
The Showgrounds, Coleraine FC
Click here for competition details
England U19s picked up maximum points with a comfortable 3-0 win over Albania at the European Championship Preliminary Tournament in Northern Ireland on Wednesday.
Manchester United’s Danny Drinkwater had England on the score sheet after just six minutes when he tapped home a Kieran Trippier cross before Aston Villa’s Nathan Delfouneso doubled the lead from inside the six yard box on 39 minutes.
Arsenal’s Henri Lansbury nodded home a third with just eleven minutes left to leave England Coach Brian Eastick happy with a professional performance.
“We pretty much dominated the game from start to finish and Albania went for damage limitation in the second half by putting everyone behind the ball," he said.
“It was a slow pitch and we couldn’t zip the ball around as much as wanted but it was a good team performance and we’re delighted for Danny Drinkwater. He scored a decent goal and moved the ball around beautifully all afternoon.”
However, Drinkwater’s team-mate at Old Trafford, Danny Welbeck, had to hobble off with a groin injury after just 18 minutes and Eastick believes that he’ll be a doubt for the remaining games against Northern Ireland and Serbia.
England are back in action on Friday against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.
England: Jason Steele, Kieran Trippier, Gavin Hoyte, Jordan Spence (c), Lee Hills, Michael Woods, Danny Drinkwater, Victor Moses, Rhys Murphy (Medy Elito, 68), Henri Lansbury, Danny Welbeck (Nathan Delfouneso, 18).
Subs not used: Krystian Pearce, Ben Amos, Matthew Briggs, Jack Rodwell, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.
