England U17s pick up 2-1 win over Germany in Rotherham

Niall Ennis hit a classy winner as England Under-17s beat their German counterparts 2-1 at New York Stadium in Rotherham on Friday evening.

In an action-packed first ten minutes, England went ahead through Mason Mount’s superb curler, only for Germany to level almost immediately through Yari Otto.

But before half time, Steve Cooper's side went back ahead through Wolves striker Ennis and the Young Lions held on, with goalkeeper Jared Thompson pulling off a fine save to deny Manuel Wintzheimer from distance with 12 minutes remaining.

Germany started the game brightly in South Yorkshire but they found themselves trailing after seven minutes as Chelsea’s Mount turned two defenders and curled a superb effort into the top right corner.

But England’s lead lasted only a minute as Germany went up the other end and Otto’s effort squeezed over the line despite Chelsea stopper Thompson’s best efforts.

After 20 minutes Dennis Adeniran blazed an effort wide but England were not to be denied five minutes later as a well-worked short corner fell to Ennis in the box and the youngster cleverly back-heeled the ball home.

The U17s line-up ahead of Friday's game with Germany in Rotherham

Just before the break, Germany threatened to level again but Renat Dadashov’s effort was turned around the post by Thompson.

And on 51 minutes, Ennis almost had another but fired just over the bar while at the other end Dadashov shot wide just after the hour mark

Shortly after Wintzheimer let rip from distance but Thomspon was equal to it again as England held on for the narrow victory.

The result brings a winning end to 2015 for Cooper's side, who will continue their preparations for their Elite Qualifying Round games next March.

England: 1 Jared Thompson (Chelsea), 2 Dujon Sterling (Chelsea), 3 Jaden Brown (Tottenham Hotspur), 4 Marcus Agyei-Tabi (Arsenal), 5 Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea) (c), 6 Tolaji Bola (Arsenal), 7 Jonathan Leko (West Bromwich Albion), 8 Dennis Adeniran (Fulham), 9 Niall Ennis (Wolverhampton Wanderers), 10 Mason Mount (Chelsea), 11 Samuel Shashoua (Tottenham Hotspur)

Substitutes: 15 Keanan Bennetts (Tottenham Hotspur) for Shashoua 64, 14 Callum Slattery (Southampton) for Adeniran 75.

Subs not used: 12 Jordan Williams (Huddersfield Town), 16 Mackenzie Heaney (Newcastle United), 17 Martell Taylor-Crossdale (Chelsea).

Goals: Mount 6, Ennis 25 

Head coach: Steve Cooper

Germany: Grill; Amade, Otto, Itter, Baak, Hanraths, Maier, Maina, Havertz, Schreck, Dadadshov

Substitutes: D. Itter 65 for Marina 65, Beste for Havertz 55, Ekene for Schreck 65, Wintzheimer for Dadadshov 65.