England 3-0 Northern Ireland

UEFA European U17 Championship
Second Qualifying Round, Group 2
Molineux, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
28 March 2005

England stayed firmly on course for a place in the UEFA European U17 Championship Finals in Italy thanks to a comfortable victory against Northern Ireland.

Hot on the heels of Saturday's opening qualifying win against Serbia and Montenegro, England were again among the goals with James Vaughan, skipper Mark Davies - on his home ground - and Michael Mancienne all on target.

It was Northern Ireland who started the stronger forcing a series of corners but the England defence held firm to repel the danger and restrict the visitors to a long range effort from Ryan Berry which David Button gathered comfortably.

And John Peacock's men took full advantage to go in front with Vaughan, making his first under-17 start, responding with his first ever England goal with 20 minutes on the clock.

After Myles Weston's cross had been palmed out by keeper Trevor Carson, Andrew Gooding fired the ball back into the box where Vaughan instinctively finished with a neat header.

Then on 26 minutes England extended their advantage with a goal on home turf for Wolves' midfielder Davies.

Hogan Ephraim laid the ball back for Darryl Knights whose teasing cross was met by Davies ghosting in the far post to head past the helpless Carson.

England were now knocking the ball around with confidence and shortly before the break Knights met Gooding's crossfield ball with a venomous half volley which flashed narrowly wide of Carson's left hand post.

Any hopes of a Northern Ireland comeback were quashed within minutes of the restart as England added a third goal through Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne.

Weston's right wing corner somehow found its way through a crowded goalmouth and Mancienne was on hand to bundle the ball home at the far post.

England were still hungry for more, with Vaughan embarking on a mazy run into the penalty area and denied only when Carson came out to smother the ball at his feet.

As Northern Ireland enjoyed a rare excursion into England territory skipper Jonathan Evans was marginally over the bar from a free kick, but normal service was quickly resumed when Weston headed inches wide from Ephraim's cross.

As the game became stretched, Northern Ireland did threaten to produce a couple of openings but it was England still looking the more dangerous with Vaughan again wriggling his way through before his shot was blocked by Carson.

Five minutes from time England were still hunting a fourth goal but Leigh Mills' header from Knights' free kick flew over the crossbar.

And they almost rounded the afternoon off in spectacular style shortly before the final whistle when substitute Scott Phelan's spectacular lob beat Carson but bounced back off the inside of the post.

There was still time for Northern Ireland to go close to an injury time consolation but Adrian McCaffrey's long range shot flew narrowly wide.

England are now in a great position to qualify for the Finals as with only the match against the Republic of Ireland at Walsall on 30 March to go, Peacock's side lie three points clear in top spot in the group.

After the match, Peacock spoke to TheFA.com: "Credit to the Irish, they came at as from the start by forcing four or five corners but we defended them well as we did throughout the game.

"After that start, gradually we settled down and started passing the ball a bit better and goals always change games.

"It's one of our strengths to get down the channels and put crosses in and that is how we got our first two goals.

"We than started the second half much better and getting the third goal so quickly killed the game off.

"I'm delighted for James Vaughan to get his first England goal. He came late into the international system but he's been doing well at Everton and I'd been watching him for a couple of months with a view to using him in this tournament.

"It's only his second cap having come off the bench on Saturday when he almost scored with his first touch but it's great for him to get the goal today.

"For Mark Davies also to score on his home ground is very pleasing. Mark's been with me for a number of years now and he's very level-headed and tenacious.

"He's got a lot more than that as well and it couldn't be better for him to score a goal here at Wolves.

"We always said before the tournament that it would all go down to the last game. We prepared for that and that is how it has happened.

"Although we only need a draw we certainly won't be playing for a draw. We want to win every game that we play and try and are determined to make it three out of three in these qualifiers.

"But knowing the Republic team and their manager like I do, they will definitely make it very hard for us."

England U17s v Northern Ireland, Molineux, 28 March 2005

England: David Button - Tottenham Hotspur, Scott Golbourne - Bristol City
Sebastian Hines - Middlesbrough, Michael Mancienne - Chelsea, Leigh Mills - Tottenham Hotspur, Mark Davies - Wolverhampton Wanderers (capt.) (Lee Cattermole - Middlesbrough, 68), Andrew Gooding - Coventry City, Myles Weston - Charlton Athletic (Joe Garner - Blackburn Rovers, 53), James Vaughan - Everton, Darryl Knights - Ipswich Town, Hogan Ephraim - West Ham United (Scott Phelan - Everton, 62)

Northern Ireland: Carson, McAnnulla (Cathcart, 62), Evans, McVea, Derry, Berry, Harpur, Weir (Harris, 55), McCaffrey, Grattan (Allen, 55), Carvill. Unused subs: Mullan, Walsh, O'Neill.

Referee: Thomas Einwaller.

Attendance: 8,261