Belarus 1-6 England
UEFA Women's European Championship
Qualifying Round, Group One
5pm (local time), Thursday 8 May 2008
Darida FC, Minsk
A Fara Williams hat-trick kept England on course to qualify for Euro 2009, as they saw off Belarus with ease to take a crucial three points from their visit to Minsk.
England were ahead after just 30 seconds as Jill Scott arrived at the near post to power home Rachel Yankey's fine delivery from the left flank.
It was a lightning start for the Three Lions as they looked to sign off for the summer in style, with Fara Williams lofting a delightful pass out to the left-wing and Yankey which the Arsenal winger in turn delivered onto the head of Everton's Jill Scott.
It was the perfect start as the visitors controlled possession and looked to break in numbers, and it wasn't long before the advantage was doubled as Fara Williams drove a terrific free-kick into the top corner.
Jill Scott ran at the heart of the Belarus defence before being felled 25 yards from goal. Kelly Smith stood over the ball, but Williams hit the ball with the outside of her right foot and Novikova was once again stranded on her line.
After losing two early goals, and already suffering a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Spain just a week ago, Belarus were keen to limit the damage and packed their defence to try and prevent another heavy defeat.
However, halfway through the first period it was 3-0, with Fara Williams getting on the scoresheet again - with another cracking effort from 25 yards out.
This time it came from open play as Casey Stoney and Rachel Yankey built an attack before feeding Williams in space through the middle. Williams drove forward and was given the chance to shoot as Belarus backed off, her effort flying into the top corner.
Just five minutes later, though, Belarus struck against the run of play as their captain, Natalya Ryzhevich, fired a looping effort over Siobhan Chamberlain in the England goal and into the top corner.
It was a warning for England as they sought to run away with the game, but on the stroke of half-time Lianne Sanderson restored the three-goal advantage with a calmly taken finish inside the six-yard box.
Chesting down a right-footed cross from Yankey, appearing on the right flank on this occasion, Sanderson cooly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to send England into the break with a three-goal cushion.
The second half was a testing affair as heavy rain and hailstones made for tough conditions, particularly coupled with Belarus edging ever further towards their own goal. Birthday girl Lindsay Johnson came on, as did Everton team-mate Jody Handley and Birmingham's Laura Bassett.
Williams completed her hat-trick with another terrific effort from distance, before captain Faye White got on the scoresheet again, heading home a terrific cross from Arsenal teammate Rachel Yankey.
England now have just two remaining fixtures in their bid to qualify for the European Championship in Finland next year, taking on Czech Republic on 28 September and Spain four days later. Both games are away from home.
Belarus: 1 Sviatlana Novikava, 5 Oksana Shpak, 11 Alesia Baranova (14 Sviatlana Znaidzionova 77), 8 Volha Novikava, 10 Natalya Ryzhevich, 6 Irina Kozeeva, 17 Maryna Lis (13 Tatsiana Kiose 68), 9 Svetlana Astasheva (18 Volha Manzhuk 61), 4 Elena Shevtsova, 15 Alina Vasilyeva, 2 Nina Akhvymuk
Substitutes Not Used: 12 Ina Batsianouskaya, 7 Volha Radzko, 16 Alena Buzinova, 3 Sviatlana Ryzhova
England: 1 Siobhan Chamberlain, 2 Alex Scott (17 Lindsay Johnson 46), 3 Casey Stoney, 4 Jill Scott, 5 Faye White (c), 6 Anita Asante, 7 Karen Carney (12 Jody Handley 46), 8 Fara Williams, 9 Lianne Sanderson, 10 Kelly Smith (18 Laura Bassett 59), 11 Rachel Yankey
Substitutes Not Used: 13 Rachel Brown, 14 Sue Smith, 15 Mary Phillip, 16 Rachel Unitt
Referee: Cristina Dorcioman (Romania)