Holland provide stern test for England CP squad

England’s Cerebral Palsy squad came up against a strong Dutch team for two international matches at St. George’s Park over the weekend.

Folllowing the news last week that the CP World Cup will be taking place at the national football centre next year, this was the latest test for Keith Webb’s squad and they were certainly challenged by a nation rated as fourth-best in the world rankings.

The first game took place on Friday, when England found their opponents in unforgiving form as they took a first-half lead after a poor defensive clearance was smashed home by a Dutch striker to open the scoring.

England rallied after what had been an equal opening period and Emyle Rudder almost brought his side level, when his shot flew across goal and went narrowly wide.

It was the Dutch who made the first impact after the re-start though as they added a quickfire double by rounding off a move at the back post and then made it 3-0 after a quick counter-attack from an England corner.

The hosts had a chance to reduce the arrears soon after, but Jake Brown was unable to connect with Nicky Fish’s shot across the area.

But England managed a goal back in the 52nd minute, when the same combination saw Brown prod home his first goal for England to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

England finished their double-header on a positive note 24 hours later though, when they played out a pulsating 0-0 draw.

They were made to work for their clean sheet too, with Moore making a number of good stops, including a fine one-one-one save, as England survived some strong attacking from Holland.

The England line-up for the second game on Saturday

But Fish went close with a free-kick which was well saved by the Dutch goalkeeper in the first half before the second period saw chances for either side.

The closest efforts fell to England, as Fish and Brown were both thwarted by close range saves from the Dutch ‘keeper.

And there was further drama in the 43rd minute as Holland were awarded a penalty, but Giles Moore made a smart save with his feet to deny the Dutch captain.

The game ended with Holland's ‘keeper being sent off after handling the ball outside the box when Ollie Nugent latched onto a through ball.

With the visitors forced to put an outfield player in goal, England pressed forward and hemmed the Dutch inside their own half, winning a number of free-kicks in their chase for a winner.

And they came agonisingly close too, as Rudder struck a free kick against the crossbar moments before the final whistle.

Speaking about the games, Head Coach Webb said: "It was a great learning curve for me as it was the first time we have played someone above us in the rankings.

"Even though we lost [the first game] 3-1, I felt the difference between the teams was minimal and we helped our own downfall.

"After the first game, we had a good heart-to-heart with the players and this led to us having a different mindset for the second game.

"We changed the team to allow me to explore options in the squad but it was a game we set out to win.

"There was more calmness in the team and that unsettled the Dutch.

"We kept pushing all the way to the end and we could have won it, so the game answered a few questions I had about the squad and now we need to take this momentum into our games against Scotland in April.

"We have learnt a lot over the last two games when we have been in adversity but this is when you find out what the team is made of."

England (Friday): G. Moore, H. Baker (K. Townshend), Richard Kay, G. Fletcher (J. Brown), J. Rutter (c) (N. Fish), E. Rudder (A. Mullin), J. Blackwell (T. Smith).

Goals: J. Brown (52).

England (Saturday): G. Moore, K. Townshend, Richard Kay, H. Baker, N. Fish (c) (O. Nugent), J. Brown (E. Rudder), J. Blackwell (G. Fletcher).

Goals: None.