Lions grab consolation

England signed off with a victory over Czech Republic that will go some way to repairing the disappointment at failing to qualify for the European Championship.

Goals from Craig Lindfield and Chris Martin gave Brian Eastick's side their first points of the qualifying round, in a game that will also be remembered for both sides having a man sent off.

The game began with an unfortunate blow on the nose for Czech full back Jakub Dohnalek, and Tomas Dolezal had to come on in his place. And a mere ten minutes had passed before the increasingly unlucky visitors suffered another injury, when Borek Dockal and Ben Turner collided and neither player would return to the action.

With Czech Republic momentarily down to ten men in the absence of Dockal, Craig Lindfield pounced to give England the lead with a fine header. Rising highest to meet an early cross from the left, the Liverpool striker grabbed his third goal of the season to the delight of the Northampton crowd.

Lindfield almost made it two just moments later when some indecisive Czech defending gifted him an effort on goal. Receiving the ball on the edge of the area Lindfield looked up and spotted Michal Toma off his line and attempted to lob the ball over the Czech keeper, but his chip went narrowly over.

Czech Republic were not keen to take the wooden spoon for the tournament and showed attacking ambition of their own, with substitute Martin Zeman providing a pacy outlet on the left flank. Twice in quick succession Jack Hobbs had to be called upon to prevent crosses from the left reaching their intended targets.

Craig Lindfield and Chris Martin worked well together up front, holding the ball up well they brought the midfield into the game quickly, while the creativity of Danny Haynes and Jack Cork on the wings proved a constant threat.

Five minutes before the break Lindfield went close to doubling England's advantage as he got on the end an angled ball from Sam Hewson. Taking a quick free-kick, Hewson drove the ball deep towards the far post where Lindfield was lurking, only for Toma to deny the Liverpool striker.

On the stroke of half time Jiri Valenta was a whisker away from levelling the scores as he arrived late in the box to side foot a cross wide. Dusan Nulicek probed down the rightflank and delivered a perfect pull back, only for Valenta to watch as his deft flick dribbled the wrong side of the post.

Four minutes after the interval Jan Halama was dismissed for deliberate handball in the area as England went in search of another goal. The ball broke free as Craig Lindfield broke into the area and Halama fell to the ground and instinctively reached for the ball with his right arm, leaving the referee no choice but to send him off.

Norwich City striker Chris Martin stepped up and scored the resulting penalty to put England firmly in the driving seat, and make it two goals for Martin in two starts this season.

With England having no chance prior to this game of qualifying the second half failed to reach the heights of the first, with tired legs after three games in five days having an effect on the football. With few more chances after Chris Martin's penalty the only incident of note came six minutes from time when Danny Haynes was dismissed for a poor challenge on Zdenek Smeskal, with the referee immediately brandishing red for the tackle.

England finish the season with a victory, if not qualification, and for these players the next aim will be to stake a claim in the Under-21s next season.

England: 13 Frank Fielding (Blackburn Rovers), 3 Scott Golbourne (Reading), 6 Michael Mancienne (Chelsea) (2 Elliot Omozusi (Fulham) 46), 9 Danny Haynes (Ipswich Town), 7 Sam Hewson (Manchester United), 12 Ben Turner (Coventry City) (5 Jack Hobbs (Liverpool) 13), 14 Stephen Darby, (Liverpool), 15 Chris Martin, (Norwich City), 16 Craig Lindfield (Liverpool), 17 Rossi Jarvis (Norwich City), 18 Jack Cork (Chelsea)
Subs not used: 1 Jamie Annerson (Sheffield United),