England made it three wins from three in round one of qualifying for the 2024 UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship with a 1-0 victory over Czechia.
Amy Merricks’ side continued their 100 per cent record in qualifying thanks to Maddy Earl’s second-half goal against Czechia at the Cardiff International Sports Campus.
Czechia, who went into the game level on points with England, had the first real chance of note after just five minutes when Lucie Bendová’s long-range effort was saved by Eve Annets.
Georgia Mullett forced a good save, before Evie Rabjohn had a header stopped by Vanesa Jílková later in the half.
Kateřina Vithová had a shot from an indirect free-kick deflected over and both Freya Godfrey and Mullett saw shots blocked before the ball was scrambled clear.
Lucy Newell also had a shot deflected onto the bar and Earl had a couple of efforts saved.
The breakthrough came six minutes into the second half, as Godfrey had a shot saved by the goalkeeper and Earl controlled the rebound before finishing.
Mullett almost added a second goal when she struck the near post, while the Young Lionesses had to finish the game with ten players after Mia Enderby was forced off injured.
Wales lost out 3-0 to Greece at Dragon Park, Georgia Chalatsogianni’s opener being the difference for much of the game, until she converted an 89th-minute penalty and Niki Siafarika scored in added time.
Scotland lost out 2-1 to Belarus in Group A7 in Tirana, Kayla Jardine cancelling out Anastasiya Maher’s opener but Valeriya Imkhovik scoring the winner on the hour mark.
Northern Ireland lost out 3-0 to Italy in Group A1 on Saturday, Giada Pellegrino-Cimò scoring twice and Valentina Donolato adding the third in stoppage time.
Also at the weekend, Republic of Ireland defeated the Faroe Islands 4-0 in Group A6, Jessica Fitzgerald bagged a first-half brace, Lia O’Leary and Joy Ralph adding one each in the last ten minutes.
