England opened their UEFA European Women’s U17 Championship elite qualifying round campaign with a 2-0 win over Poland in Telford.
Captain Lauren Hemp, who scored four goals in the 14-0 drubbing of Lithuania in October, led by example and put the Young Lionesses ahead just after the half-hour mark.
And Oxford United’s Gabby Ravenscroft sealed the win with 12 minutes to go.
Next up for John Griffiths’s side is Germany, the holders, in Telford on Monday, followed by the visit of Italy to St. George’s Park next Thursday.
Griffiths led last year’s intake to a third-place finish at the Euros and a subsequent place at the FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup in Jordan.
England: 1 Hannah Hampton (Birmingham City), 2 Meg Boydell (Liverpool), 3 Poppy Pattinson (Sunderland), 6 Esme Morgan (Manchester City), 9 Gabby Ravenscroft (Oxford United), 10 Emily Syme (Bristol City), 11 Lauren Hemp (capt; Bristol City), 14 Amy Rodgers (Liverpool), 15 Olivia Smith (Chelsea), 16 Ella Rutherford (Millwall), 17 Jessica Ngunga (Arsenal).
Substitutes: 18 Beth O’Donnell (Manchester City) for Rutherford 61.
Substitutes not used: 13 Emily Ramsey (Manchester United), 4 Aimee Palmer (Bristol City), 5 Shannon Cooke (Arsenal), 7 Nicole Douglas (Chelsea), 8 Miri Taylor (Chelsea), 12 Grace Neville (Millwall).
Goals: Hemp 33, Ravenscroft 68
Head coach: John Griffiths
