England

2-0

Republic of Ireland

Carr 74, Oli 82

 

Four Nations Tournament
Tuesday 23 May 2006
Eastbourne Borough FC

England got off to a winning start against Republic of Ireland in the Four Nations Tournament at Eastbourne Borough tonight after a double substitution that changed the game.

With only four players in the starting eleven from February's 3-1 victory against Italy, Paul Fairclough's side started strongly, but the swirling wind made a passing game difficult.

After a quiet opening period where England were unable to transfer their superior possession into chances, The Three Lions had the ball in the back of the net on 19mins but George Boyd was ruled offside.

England continued to press and Dennis Oli had two half-chances for England before the break.

First he prodded wide on 24mins after a cross whipped in by George Boyd, and then on 34mins, Oli volleyed over from 6 yards after Darran Kempson nodded Boyd's corner back into the box.

Boyd was again in the thick of the action four minutes after the restart when he rashly fired wide after a long ball from Kempson.

With 20 minutes remaining Paul Fairclough brought on Michael Carr and Gary Roberts and within four minutes they had combined to give England the lead.

Roberts' left wing cross cut out the spirited Irish defence, and at the back post, Carr rose highest to nod Fairclough's side ahead.

The goal visibly lifted England and eight minutes later they doubled their lead.

After Roberts' free-kick was superbly tipped onto the bar by Terry Masterson, the resultant corner was chipped back into the box by the Accrington Stanley midfielder for Dennis Oli to head home from 2 yards.

England weathered some late Irish pressure but at the final whistle, Paul Fairclough will have been happy to see his side begin the defence of their title with a win in front of a crowd of 824.

In the night's other game at Bognor Regis Town, Wales beat Scotland 2-1.

TNS's Graham Evans and Dagenham and Redbridge's Christian Moore gave Wales a 2-0 half-time lead over Scotland, with Spartans' Iain Thomson netting a second half consolation for the Scots.

England: Shwan Jalal, Simon Travis, Darren Kempson, Kieran Charnock, John Nutter (Shane Blackett, 89mins), Dennis Oli, Stuart Thurgood, Ian Craney (Michael Carr, 70mins)), George Boyd, Aaron McLean (Craig Mackail-Smith, 85mins) Justin Richards (Gary Roberts, 70mins)