England U-23s Win Nordic Tournament

Hannah Blundell and Beth Mead scored a goal apiece as England Women’s Under-23s defeated Norway 2-0 to win the annual Nordic Tournament.

Blundell halted a Norwegian attack, played a one-two with Mead and calmly slotted the ball home to give the Young Lionesses a 13th-minute lead.

And Mead sealed the victory by finishing off a patient England move just before the half-hour mark.

It might have got even better after the break, only for Marieanne Spacey’s side to hit the bar three times in five second-half minutes.

Spacey led her side to a 4-0 win over Sweden last Tuesday before holding USA to a 0-0 draw on Friday.

England U-23s: 13 Sophie Baggaley (Birmingham City), 2 Hannah Blundell (Chelsea), 3 Jessica Carter (Birmingham City), 4 Leah Williamson (Arsenal), 5 Aoife Mannion (capt; Birmingham City), 6 Gabby George (Everton), 8 Keira Walsh (Manchester City), 14 Melissa Lawley (Manchester City), 15 Millie Turner (Bristol City), 18 Abbey-Leigh Stringer (Birmingham City), 20 Beth Mead (Arsenal).

Substitutes: 10 Beth England (Chelsea) for Lawley 65, 17 Molly Bartrip (Reading) for Leigh-Stringer 82.

Substitutes not used: 1 Megan Walsh (Yeovil Town), 7 Sarah Mayling (Birmingham City), 9 Claudia Walker (Everton), 11 Paige Williams (Birmingham City), 12 Jodie Brett (Chelsea – on loan at Bristol City), 16 Meaghan Sargeant (Birmingham City), 19 Freda Ayisi (Birmingham City).

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