Cole sinks Finns

The England National Game XI brought their successful season to an end on Friday night with a hard earned 1-0 victory over the Finland Under-21 side.

"This was a long journey to make but the players responded magnificently," said Head Coach Paul Fairclough. "Mitchell Cole turned in an impressive performance and the way he bravely went in to score the winner really showed the quality of the player. Defensively we were strong with two good 45 minutes by Lance Cronin and Adam Bartlett in goal."

Fairclough brought in six new faces to join the ten retained from the victorious Four Nations squad.

England kicked off on a warm evening in the picturesque city of Valkeakoski and almost went ahead on eight minutes when debutant Leon Solomon jinked past three players and laid the ball off to Mark Molesley whose shot from the edge of the box was saved.

The side had weathered early Finnish pressure and was beginning to gain a hold on the game.

On 18 minutes Cole had a good free-kick pushed away for a corner as his Stevenage team-mate Steve Morison advanced on the loose ball.

The Finns' first opportunity arrived on 21 minutes when, following good interplay between Sparv and Ikavalko, the latter’s strong shot was well saved by Cronin.

A minute later England should have taken the lead when Cole chose to side foot home following a good run and cross by Carl Baker. A stronger finish would have found the net with the keeper grounded.

On the half hour mark Cronin was again called into action to parry away a strong shot from the impressive Puutinen.

Fairclough made all five changes at half-time and the red shirted Lions made an impressive start, pressurising the Finns and penning them back in their own half for long periods as they strove to find the elusive first goal.

However, the home side still posed a threat with Blyth Spartan’s Adam Bartlett making two good saves from Sparv and Sadik.

On 70 minutes Woking’s Guiseppe Sole curled a wonderful free-kick around the defensive wall only for Jaakkola to turn over the bar to prevent England taking the lead.

Take the lead they did, however, two minutes later when the impressive Cole stole between Jaakkola and a defender to head home a flick-on from Morison.

Cole took a knock to the head in scoring and only continued after prolonged treatment from the England medical staff.

He could have doubled his and England's advantage in stoppage time when he raced clear of the home defence but appeared to hesitate as he was about to shoot and the chance was lost.

England: Lance Cronin (Ebbsfleet United, Adam Bartlett, Blyth Spartans, 45 mins), Danny Foster (Dagenham & Redbridge), Leon Solomon (Welling United), Adam Quinn (Halifax Town, John Ashton, Rushden & Diamonds, 45 mins), Mark Molesley (Stevenage Borough), Steve Morrison (Stevenage Borough), Carl Baker (Southport, Glen Southam, Dagenham & Redbridge, 45 mins), Lewis Chalmers (Altrincham, Guiseppe Sole, Woking, 45 mins), Steve Morison (Stevenage Borough), Shaun Harrad (Burton Albion, John Grant, Aldershot, 45 minutes), Mitchell Cole.