Shimmin at the double

The England Under-18 girls' team pulled off an impressive win in the opening match of the European Under 18 Championships qualifying tournament in Dublin.

Everton striker Kelly Shimmin scored twice and Amanda Barr, of Doncaster Belles, another as England beat the hosts 3-1 at Dublin's Tolka Park stadium.

England are now clear favourites to top the four-team qualifying group and progress to next April's third round stage.

After the first round of Qualifying Tournament matches in Dublin, Powell's team are joint leaders with Wales after the Welsh girls beat Turkey 5-2 in their opening game.

Powell watched that match before sending her own team into action - and the coach is confident that England can continue where they left off against Eire when they meet the Turks this afternoon and Wales on Wednesday.

"They are both games we should be capable of winning, but we shall have to show the same sort of discipline that we did against Ireland to get the results we want," said the England coach. "I felt it took us a little time to find our feet in our first match, but there were one or two new things we were trying and I thought the girls adjusted well.

"We made a couple of slight adjustments at half-time and that gave us a new lease of life. Once Amanda had got the first goal I always felt we were going to win the match, although we had to keep our shape and our composure and we did that really well."

England (4-4-2): Carla Manship (Sheffield Wednesday); Lisa Sandys (Liverpool), Casey Stoney (Arsenal), Elizabeth Gomersall (Doncaster Belles), Leanne Champ (Millwall Lionesses); Kelly McDougall (Everton), Carly Hunt (Charlton), Gemma Hunt (Charlton), Catherine Lawson (Nottingham Forest), Amanda Barr (Doncaster Belles), Kelly Shimmin (Everton).

Substitutes: Fara Williams (Chelsea) for Lawson; Alexa Hunn (Charlton) for Barr; Leanne Small (Arsenal) for Shimmin.