England U19s opened their European Championship elite qualifying round with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Turkey at St. George’s Park.
Ebony Salmon, Lucy Fitzgerald and Emily Syme netted a brace apiece in an impressive all-round display on the Sir Bobby Charlton Pitch as Rehanne Skinner’s side took their first sight of qualifying for this summer's Euro Finals in Scotland.
The hosts started brightly and carved some openings in the early stages, with Aston Villa’s Jodie Hutton seeing her header drifted wide in what was her U19s debut.
Moments later, Lauren James, ever a handful for the Turks’ backline, dictated the tempo by lofting a ball into the box but no-one in a white shirt was able to get on the end of it to make a connection.
But Skinner’s team remained patient and were rewarded with five goals in 16 devastating first-half minutes, as Salmon’s low finish beat Bedriye Cam between the sticks to open the scoring.
Almost from the restart and totally against the run of play, there was a let-off for the Young Lionesses as forward Ece Tütüncü fired a low shot wide after England momentarily switched off at the back.
Millwall’s Lucy Fitzgerald doubled England’s advantage on 33 minutes, before tapping home the third from close range three minutes later.
England were rampant by now and Salmon scored a brilliant individual goal to make it 4-0, showing devastating pace down the right before finishing well.
Salmon was again at the heart of the play as England ensured they went in five goals to the good at the break, as her inch-perfect cross from the right was finished well by Syme.
Naomi Hartley, Amelia Hazard and Georgia Eaton-Collins were introduced at the interval as there was a quieter start to the second period.
That’s not to say the home side did not continue to dominate.
They added to their tally with 20 minutes of the regulation 90 remaining, with the recently introduced Lauren Hemp teeing up Syme for her second of the afternoon.
Roles were then reversed as Syme played the ball through to Hemp, who rounded the goalkeeper to slot home and complete the scoring.
England will take on Sweden in their second qualifier at the national football centre on Saturday afternoon.
England: 1 Emily Ramsey (Manchester United), 2 Olivia Smith (University of Oklahoma), 4 Aimee Palmer (Manchester United), 5 Esme Morgan (Manchester City) (c), 11 Lucy Fitzgerald (Millwall Lionesses), 12 Grace Neville (Millwall Lionesses), 14 Emily Syme (Yeovil Town), 15 Niamh Cashin (Rider University), 17 Ebony Salmon (Sheffield United, loan from Manchester United), 18 Lauren James (Manchester United), 20 Jodie Hutton (Aston Villa)
Substitutes: 16 Naomi Hartley (Sheffield United, on loan from Manchester United) replaced Cashin 46, 19 Amelia Hazard (Arsenal) replaced Palmer 46, 6 Georgia Eaton-Collins (University of Florida) replaced Morgan 46, 9 Lauren Hemp (Manchester City) replaced Salmon 62, 10 Ella Rutherford (Bristol City) replaced Hutton 62.
Substitutes not used: 13 Hannah Hampton (Birmingham City), 3 Poppy Pattinson (Bristol City), 7 Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), 8 Amy Rodgers (Liverpool).
Head coach: Rehanne Skinner
Goals: Ebony Salmon 25, 39, Lucy Fitzgerald 33 36, Emily Syme 41, 70, Lauren Hemp ’81
