England 3-0 Norway
International Friendly
7.45pm, Thursday 23 April 2009
The ProStar Stadium, Shrewsbury Town FC
Live on Setanta Sports 2

Fara Williams scored one with either foot, and Lindsay Johnson headed her first ever goal for her country as Hope Powell's side beat Norway to maintain their progress towards Finland and Euro 2009.

In the opening five minutes Fara Williams went close with two trademark long-range shots. Her first went narrowly wide from a free-kick the midfielder earned herself and the second, this time from her left-foot, stung the palms of Caroline Knutsen in the Norwegian goal.

Norway responded with an attack of their own as Ingvild Isaksen outmuscled Anita Asante and strode through on goal, only to see her driven effort slide inches past the far post.

Lindsay Johnson headed wide from a Sue Smith corner, but within minutes England were ahead through Fara Williams. From a throw-in on the left flank Jill Scott found Karen Carney in space and her low left-footed cross was converted well by Williams arrivining at the near post.

Norway persisted with their direct play and looked to test the aerial strength of England's defence with lofted balls forward, but Asante and Johnson competed well and showed composure under pressure.

Kelly Smith hit the roof of the net from a free-kick and the game maintained an end-to-end feel as Norway continued to find space and threaten at the other end. A curling shot from Solveig Gulbrandsen that sailed just wide of the frame of post and bar underlined the danger the visitors offered.

But with just six minutes of the first-half remaining England doubled their advantage, and Lindsay Johnson grabbed her first goal for her country. Karen Carney delivered an inch-perfect inswinging cross from the left that Johnson headed down into the ground and make it 2-0 England.

Moments later as she latched onto a clearance from a corner Aluko saw a fine drive cleared off the line as Hope Powell's side finished the half strongly.

With no changes at the interval England carried on where they left off in the first period, with Sue Smith twice going close to scoring on her left foot and the home side dominating possession in the early part of the second-half.

Williams went close to adding her second goal from a free-kick on the edge of the area. The Everton midfielder managed to get the ball over the wall with sufficient dip, but the curl on the ball took it the wrong side of the near post.

Isaksen went closest to snatching a goal for the visitors, a long free-kick dropped at her feet at the far post and the Norwegian forward stabbed the ball just wide of the far post.

Fara Williams then let fly from almost 30 yards out to give England the scoreline their play deserved. With nine minutes remaining Jess Clarke and Lindsay Johnson traded passes before releasing Williams whose powerful shot was too hot to handle for Knutsen.

Jill Scott and Lindsay Johnson went close in the final minutes, though the game would draw to a close with another fine victory for England as they continue their preparations for the European Championship finals in August.

England
1 Rachel Brown, 2 Alex Scott, 3 Casey Stoney, 4 Fara Williams (c), 5 Lindsay Johnson, 6 Anita Asante, 7 Karen Carney, 8 Jill Scott, 9 Eniola Aluko (12 Katie Chapman, 66), 10 Kelly Smith, 11 Sue Smith (14 Jessica Clarke, 79)

Substitutes Not Used
13 Siobhan Chamberlain, 15 Emily Westwood, 16 Corinne Yorston, 17 Rachel Unitt, 18 Rachel Yankey, 19 Jody Handley, 20 Danielle Buet, 21 Laura Bassett, 22 Rachel Williams, 23 Carly Telford, 24 Gemma Davison, 25 Michelle Hickmott

Goals
Williams 18, 81, Johnson 39

Norway
1 Caroline Knutsen, 4 Ingvild Stensland (c), 7 Trine Ronning, 8 Solveig Gulbrandsen, 9 Isabell Herlovsen (10 Lindy Melissa Wiik, 60), 15 Hedda Strand Gardsjord (6 Camilla Huse, 82), 17 Maren Mjelde, 18 Toril H. Akerhaugen, 19 Ingvild Isaksen, 20 Kristin Lie (16 Elise Thorsnes, 60), 21 Lene Storlokken (5 Anneli Giske, 60)

Substitutes Not Used
2 Solfrid Anderson, 3 Marita Skammelsrud Lund, 11 Leni Larsen Kaurin, 12 Ingvild Johansen, 13 Siri Nordeide Gronli,

Referee
Sasa Ihringova

Attendance
4,468