Melissa Filis bagged a hat-trick as England got their UEFA Women’s U17 Championship qualifying campaign off to a flying start with a 6-0 demolition of Moldova.
The Arsenal youngster opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 38 minutes before a second-half blitz blew the host nation away.
Manchester United’s Fran Stables and Bristol City’s Katie Robinson, on for Stables, added to the scoreline before Filis completed her treble with two goals deep into a lengthy period of added time, either side of Ruby Grant’s strike.
Gemma Grainger’s side had an incredible 45 attempts at goal with Moldova failing to register a single one.
Next up for the Young Lionesses is Azerbaijan on Saturday followed by Iceland next Tuesday.
The top two sides in every group plus the four third-placed teams with the best record against the top two in their section will join Germany and holders Spain (who were given byes) in the elite round draw in November, with those matches scheduled for spring 2019.
The seven elite round group winners will join hosts Bulgaria in the finals next May.
England (4-3-3): 13 Emily Orman (Brighton & Hove Albion RTC); 14 Maisy Barker (Chelsea), 6 Maya Le Tissier (capt; Brighton & Hove Albion), 16 Gracie Pearse (Arsenal), 3 Mia Cruickshank (Reading); 12 Melissa Filis (Arsenal), 8 Ruby Grant (Arsenal), 10 Charlotte Fleming (Chelsea); 11 Keri Matthews (York City RTC), 9 Emma Harries (Reading), 17 Fran Stables (Manchester United RTC).
Substitutes: 7 Katie Robinson (Bristol City) for Stables 67, 19 Isobel Goodwin (Derby County RTC) for Harries 72, 5 Ellie Hack (Brighton & Hove Albion) for Pearse 80+3, 18 Ellen Jones (Bristol City RTC) for Matthews 80+3.
Substitutes not used: 1 Emma Bradley (Manchester City), 2 Ella Morris (Southampton RTC), 4 Blue Wilson (Manchester City), 15 Sophie Quirk (Reading), 20 Rebecca May (Manchester United).
Goals: Filis (pen) 38, 80+8, 80+15 (pen), Stables 65, Robinson 73, Grant 80+11.
Bookings: Harries 49
Head coach: Gemma Grainger
Referee: Merima Čelik (BIH)
