Parris does the damage
Monday, 02 April, 2012
A hat-trick from Nikita Parris guides England to big win over Wales.
A hat-trick from Everton youngster Nikita Parris helped England register a resounding 6-0 win over Wales in their second match of the final round of Euro U19 qualifiers.
It was an evenly fought contest for the opening half an hour with both sides creating a couple of chances each. Parris saw a header cleared off the line and Wales’ Megan Wynne fired a shot just inches past Mary Earps' upright.
But three goals in quick succession immediately turned the tie in England’s favour.
Bethany England put the hosts ahead on 41, just two minutes before Parris netted the first of her treble, and Sherry McCue made it 3-0 deep into added time at the end of the first half with a wonder strike from 30 yards.
There was no let-up in the second half, either, as Parris extended the lead just two minutes after the restart. The Toffee forward completed her hat-trick with an impudent lob from the edge of the area, while England grabbed a brace for herself by completing the scoring on 74 minutes.
This result leaves England clear at the top of their Euro qualifying group with six points from their opening two games, following Friday’s 1-0 win over Finland, and leaves them needing just a point from their final game against Austria on Thursday to make it to the Euro Finals in Turkey this summer.