Debutant Danielle Carter scored a hat-trick as England secured a comprehensive 8-0 win over minnows Estonia in their opening Euro 2017 qualifier.
The Arsenal striker broke the deadlock in just the second minute. Jo Potter swept home a second just after the half-hour mark and Fran Kirby made it 3-0 shortly after.
The goals kept coming. Jill Scott turned in Gemma Davison’s cross early in the second half before another debutant, Isobel Christiansen, got herself on the scoresheet with a stunning effort from the edge of the box.
Estonia 0-8 England
Women's Euro 2017 qualifying stage
Monday 21 September
A Le Coq Arena
Tallinn, Estonia
Kirby prodded home a sixth and Carter bagged two late goals to complete a dream debut.
It was the Lionesses’ first match since they won bronze at the World Cup in Canada – and they will no doubt face more testing qualifiers on the road to the European Championship finals in Holland.
Their second match is at home to Bosnia & Herzegovina on Sunday 29 November, with Serbia and Belgium completing Group 7.
After appearing almost 50 times for England’s youth teams, Carter, 22, was handed her senior team bow in Tallinn – and she marked it in style.
England celebrate after getting Jo Potter's goal
England retained possession from the kick-off. They patiently played the ball around until the first opening arrived - and it came in the second minute.
Carter played Jess Clarke in to the right-hand side of the box. The Notts County forward, who was making her 50th international appearance, fizzed an angled shot goalwards which Getter Laar parried, and Carter was on-hand to smash the ball home from 10 yards to give her side an early lead.
Clarke had a couple of penalty claims dismissed before forcing Laar to turn a shot behind for a corner as England looked to increase their advantage at every opportunity.
England captain Steph Houghton challenges Estonia's Pille Raadik for a header
The hosts’ first chance did not come until the 23rd minute. It was a fairly tame effort from Signy Aarna and easy for Carly Telford to collect.
Potter was taking all of England’s set pieces and one of the 30-year-old’s corners almost brought about a second goal just after the 30-minute mark.
Estonia failed to clear and Kirby poked the ball goalwards, only to see her shot bounce back off the bar.
But it was not long until England did double their advantage as Kirby found Potter inside the box and the Birmingham City midfielder placed her shot into the far corner.
Then it was Kirby’s turn to get in on the act as she finished off a neat England move.
Davison, lively on the right-hand side, sent a low cross into the box. Carter produced a clever step-over and Kirby calmly slotted the ball underneath Laar and into the back of the net.
Jess Clarke won her 50th cap for England
Davison provided the away side’s fourth goal, too, shortly after the break.
The Chelsea forward scampered down the right and delivered a cross into the box, which Scott side-footed into the bottom corner.
Davison should have added a fifth but could only pull her effort wide of the far post after being found by Kirby.
Kirby had a goal disallowed for a foul on the line, but Christiansen was not to be denied just minutes later.
Potter saw a long-range effort blocked inside the box and the Manchester City midfielder was on-hand to rifle the ball beyond Laar on the half volley. It was a debut strike to be proud of.
And three late goals in quick succession put a fine gloss on a dominant England performance.
Kirby grabbed her second when she finished off a move - that she had started - after Carter’s shot was blocked.
Watch the goals from England's win in Estonia
And Gunners hotshot Carter claimed the match ball by turning in substitute Ellen White’s cross before completing her hat-trick with a thumping drive from 18 yards.
Estonia: 1 Getter Laar, 4 Pille Raadik, 6 Anete Paulus, 7 Katrin Loo, 8 Kaire Palmaru, 9 Signy Aarna, 13 Kristina Bannikova, 15 Inna Zlidnis, 17 Eneli Vals, 18 Kethy Ounpuu (C), 19 Liis Lepik
Substitutes: 11 Merily Toom for Bannikova 75
Substitutes not used: 12 Imbi Hoop, 2 Liis Pello, 3 Kairi Himanen 5 Daniela Lambin, 14 Miina Kallas, 16 Kelly Rosen
Head coach: Keith Boanas
England (3-4-1-2): 1 Carly Telford (Notts County); 2 Amy Turner (Notts County), 5 Steph Houghton (C; Manchester City), 3 Demi Stokes (Manchester City); 7 Gemma Davison (Chelsea), 6 Jill Scott (Manchester City), 4 Jo Potter (Birmingham City), 11 Fran Kirby (Chelsea); 8 Isobel Christiansen (Manchester City); 10 Danielle Carter (Arsenal), 9 Jess Clarke (Notts County).
Substitutes: 18 Eniola Aluko (Chelsea) for Scott 68, 17 Ellen White (Notts County) for Davison 78, 14 Casey Stoney (Arsenal) for Clarke 90+2.
Substitutes not used: 12 Laura Bassett (Notts County), 13 Karen Bardsley (Manchester City), 15 Gilly Flaherty (Chelsea), 16 Alex Greenwood (Notts County).
Goals: Carter 2, 83, 90+2 Potter 34, Kirby 40, 81, Scott 53, Christiansen 74.
Bookings: Christiansen 45
Head coach: Mark Sampson
Referee: Dilan Gokcek (TUR)
Attendance: 1,342
Tickets for the qualifier against Bosnia are on sale now priced £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. A family ticket (two adults and two children) is available at £10 and group booking discounts apply.
Tickets can be purchased via tickets.bristol-sport.co.uk or by calling 01179 630 600.
