Lithuania 1-1 England

Martin Hunter's highly promising England Under-19 team have given themselves every chance of qualification for this summer's European Championships with a very solid first leg showing away to Lithuania on Wednesday night.

Up against a physically strong side who had beaten Russia (the only team to whom England have lost this season) to get to this stage, the young lions bring the tie back to Nottingham all square.

Darren Bent, the Ipswich striker of huge potential, opened the scoring for England on 32 minutes after Martin Hunter's side had managed to quell the initially hot reception that they were given by the 6,000 strong Kanus crowd who through objects onto the pitch in an uncomfortable atmosphere.

Bent, who has already made his first team debut for Ipswich this season, was on hand to tuck away the rebound after Michael Chopra's shot had struck the post.

England went on to dominate the first half but were then pegged back at the start of the second by the home side. Physically very advanced, the Lithuanians piled on the pressure and managed to get an equaliser mid-way through the second half.

England responded well and might have re-taken the lead with chances falling to both Bent again and John Welsh from the edge of the box but, though victory evaded them on this occasion, they have the chance to seal their progression on Sunday.

"We're in the driving seat now," Martin Hunter told TheFA.com as the team arrived back on English soil.

"It's never a bad result to go away from home in Europe and come back with a 1-1 draw, especially bearing in mind the cauldron of an atmosphere that we played in.

"The players did well, they just got on with it and we were all helped by the fact that our preparation had been excellent and we knew exactly what to expect from the Lithuanians.

"We've got a few injuries and we'll need to see how they progress as we turn our minds towards Sunday.

"That will be another tough game but, if we are professional and play to our capabilities, we have every chance of finishing off the job and qualifying for the finals in Norway."

England: Grant, Hoyte, Garry (Hylton 72), Welsh, Johnson, Clark, Chopra, O'Neil (c), Bent (Cole 87), Cooke (Fox 70), Townson
Unused subs: Allaway, Moore, Downing, Austin

England Goals: Bent 32