England completed their UEFA Women’s U19 Championship campaign with a 1-0 victory over Belgium at McDiarmid Park in Scotland.
Rehanne Skinner’s side went into Monday’s final Group B match unable to make the semi-finals following narrow defeats by Germany and holders Spain.
But Ebony Salmon’s wonderful 26th-minute effort ensured the Young Lionesses finished the season on a winning note.
There were six changes to the starting line-up following Friday’s 1-0 loss to Spain with goalkeeper Emily Ramsey, defender Niamh Cashin, midfielders Jessica Park, Aimee Palmer and Ella Rutherford, and Salmon all given the nod.
And it was Salmon who grabbed the only goal of the game by bursting down the left, cutting inside past Sari Kees and firing into the net midway through the first half.
Jessica Park then looked to turn the screw with two efforts of her own but the Manchester City youngster was unable to double England’s tally.
Park was at it again early in the second half when a powerful run carried her into the Belgium box – but her low strike was palmed away by Femke Bastiaen.
Skinner’s charges thought they had scored a second when the subsequent corner was bundled home from close range – only for referee Ewa Augustyn to chalk it off for a foul on Bastiaen.
Belgium did have their chances after the break, though, most notably substitute Lea Cordier, who let fly from distance just a minute after coming on – but Ramsey was equal to it and tipped the long-ranger over the bar.
Half-time substitute Molly Pike, on for Jessica Naz, almost put a fine gloss on the scoreline in added time but could only thump her close-range header off the crossbar.
England: 13 Emily Ramsey (Manchester United), 15 Niamh Cashin (Rider University), 5 Esme Morgan (capt; Manchester City), 6 Georgia Eaton-Collins (University of Florida), 17 Jessica Park (Manchester City), 4 Aimee Palmer (Manchester United), 12 Ella Rutherford (Bristol City), 8 Amy Rodgers (Liverpool), 19 Asmita Ale (Aston Villa), 9 Jessica Naz (Tottenham Hotspur), 16 Ebony Salmon (Unattached).
Substitutes: 2 Grace Neville (London City Lionesses) for Morgan 46, 18 Molly Pike (Everton) for Naz 46, 10 Emily Syme (Aston Villa) for Rodgers 60, 14 Lauren James (Manchester United) for Rutherford 82, 7 Lucy Fitzgerald (London City Lionesses) for Salmon 90+4.
Substitutes not used: 1 Hannah Hampton (Birmingham City), 3 Olivia Smith (University of Central Florida), 11 Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), 20 Kiera Skeels (Reading).
Head coach: Rehanne Skinner
Goal: Salmon 26
Bookings: Rutherford 81, Ale 88, James 90+3
Referee: Ewa Augustyn (POL)
