England were not quite able to rescue a point in their opening Women’s U-17 EURO round two qualifier against France in Poland.
Ava Baker had a shot saved by Feerine Belhadj but France went ahead when Lucie Calba’s corner was headed in by Julie Swierot.
Hannah Poulter saved Tara Elimbi Gilbert’s 25-yard shot but only a minute later Swierot helped Shana Chossenotte double the lead.
Maddy Earl was close to pulling one back while Poulter kept England in it, denying Ines Belmiliani and then Chossenotte when one-on-one.
Evie Rabjohn struck the bar and Brooke Aspin was thwarted three times in quick succession, before Keira Barry scored from a Rabjohn free-kick six minutes from time.
There were chances to equalise when Aspin headed wide from a set-piece by Keira Flannery, who then forced a save along with Mia Enderby.
The Young Lionesses next play Poland on Sunday 27 March at 1pm UK time, the Poles having begun with a 5-0 defeat of Croatia.
England WU17s: 13 Hannah Poulter (Reading): 19 Jessica Simpson (Manchester United), 17 Evie Rabjohn (Aston Villa), 3 Brooke Aspin (Bristol City) ©, 18 Katie Ramsden (Leeds United); 20 Mackenzie Smith (Leicester City), 12 Shauna Guyatt (Chelsea), 11 Keira Flannery (Arsenal); 10 Maddy Earl (Arsenal), 4 Ava Baker (Leicester City), 2 Michelle Agyemang (Arsenal)
Subs: 16 Lexi Potter (Chelsea) for Smith 51, 5 Keira Barry (Manchester United) for Agyemang 64, 6 Ria Bose (Chelsea) for Ramsden 80, 9 Mia Enderby (Sheffield United) for Guyatt 80
Subs not used: 1 Grace Pilling (Manchester City), 7 Grace Ede (Sunderland), 8 Jemima Dahou (Manchester City), 14 Lois Marley-Paraskevas (Manchester City), 15 Jessica Osborne (Florida Elite Soccer Academy)
