England Women's Under 19s got off to a great start in their European...

England 4-0 Lithuania

UEFA 2002 U19 European Championship
First Stage Qualifying Tournament

England Women Under-19s got off to a winning start in their European Championship qualifying tournament with a 4-0 drubbing of Lithuania.

Midfielder Fara Williams was named captain for the match and scored England's first two goals as they went into a 3-0 lead at half-time.

Mo Marley's side featured several new caps, with some players from the squad that reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA U19 World Championship in Canada in August now being too old for this age group.

Williams was one of the surviving members of the World Championship team and capped a fine performance with her brace. After making a substitute's appearance in the senior team's World Cup play-off victory over Iceland last month, she will be hoping her performance will impress the National Women's Coach Hope Powell ahead of the Senior's next game in two weeks time. 

Birmingham City duo Katy Ward and Jodie McGuckin, who replaced Ward as a substitute, both got their names on the scoresheet.

England will now plays hosts Bulgaria on Friday the 4th and will finish against the Faroe Islands on Sunday the 6th of October. Both match reports will appear on TheFA.com.

UEFA decided the seeding for this year's qualifiers on the basis of each nation's achievements in the 2000-01 season, where England failed to each the Championship Finals.
Last season England reached the semi-finals of the European Championships, as well as the last eight in the World Championship, but still face two qualifying tournaments to get to the Finals, which will be held in Germany in July 2003.

England: Rachelle Houldsworth, Faye Cardin, Georgie Adams, Anita Asante, Shelly Cox (sub 78 mins Becky Brand), Michelle Hickmott, Fara Williams (sub 63 mins Sheuneen Ta), Kelly McDougall, Alex Scott, Katy Ward (sub 74 mins Jodie McGuckin), Kim Holden

Goals: Fara Williams 7, 25; Katy Ward 39; Jodie McGuckin 77