Following on from their International Challenge Trophy Group A defeat in Slovakia, the side were under pressure from the start, conceding four corners inside the opening ten minutes.
Hungary pushed forward at every opportunity with a brand of fast skillful play that Paul Fairclough’s side were struggling to match throughout the opening period, but as the half wore on the tempo slowed and England attempted to take the game to their opponents.
England C starting line-up
Andy Coughlin (Wrexham); Angus Macdonald (Salisbury City FC), David Fitzpatrick (Southport), Marc Roberts (FC Halifax Town), Josh Payne (Woking); Fraser Franks (Luton Town), James Marwood (Gateshead), Jake Gallagher (Welling United), Matty Taylor (Forest Green Rovers); Danny Bradley (Barnet), Marcus Maddison (Gateshead)
The hosts were still proving dangerous, however, and a slip by Marc Roberts allowed Bobal the chance to break on the half hour mark but he failed to control the ball and the opportunity was lost.
The home side did not have to wait long to press home their advantage, however, when the impressive Bobal fired home from twenty yards on 37 minutes. The lead was doubled a minute before the break when a cross from the right was headed home by Mervo who rose unchallenged at the near post.
England could have found themselves in an even worse scenario when Varga picked up a loose ball and surged forward seconds later, but a great stop by Andy Coughlin, who had a very impressive half, prevented the Three Lions from going in three down.
Manager Fairclough attempted to freshen up his side at the interval, making five changes as he looked to try and rescue something from the game and there was instant success when Matty Pearson pulled a goal back on 52 minutes after latching onto Elliot Frear’s through-ball.
England had their tails up and were pushing forward for an equaliser, but they were caught out eight minutes later. A counter-attack left three defenders appealing for offside, and the break down the right wing ended with Varga sliding the ball home at the far post.
The game was open now as play moved from end to end and England once again got themselves back into the tie. A second goal, and a deserved one, arrived when Frear won the ball out on the left wing raced to the goal line before pulling it back into the path of Matty Taylor, and he side-stepped his marker to fire home from ten yards.
Hopes of a remarkable comeback were dashed, however, five minutes from time when Lazlo Toth broke clear into the penalty area and lifted the ball over the advancing Coughlin to complete, what was in the end, a comfortable victory for Hungary.
Reflecting on his team’s performance, Fairclough said: “Whilst the opposition were technically more adept than us, the team spirit of the side refused to give in.
“At 2-1 and 3-2 we were very close to getting back into contention.”
He added: “We must now re-group for the remaining International Challenge Trophy fixtures.
“We know what we need to do against Turkey and Estonia if we wish to progress to the semi-finals and it is down to myself to make sure that we are fully prepared.”
