Young Lioness Matches

England U19 v Austria U19, Womens U19 Euros, 05.04.25

Hatty Ruddick

In their fight to pass the group stages, England's Young Lionesses face the Austria U19s. Austria who have won 3 out their last 5 matches match England in form who have also won 3 out of the last 5, but have lost 2 compared to Austria's 1 loss and 1 draw. However, England have played more recently than Austria, winning 6-0 against Belgium just 3 days ago. 

England Starting 11: Cox, Las, Ward, Harbert, Newell, Reid, Baker, Potter, Agyemang, Brown, Lia

Austria Starting 11:Ritter, Gutmann, Albrecht, Spinn, Ziletkina, Illinger, Spiess, Satra, Rapf, Sisic, Krassnig

England take early possession. Cox does well to stop early lapses in the home defence. However, the first goal comes from England. Baker puts England on the score sheet at 5 minutes. 

England 1 - 0 Austria. 

Attempts continue to come from England in the following minutes leading to a corner. Well taken by Brown leading to the second goal from captain Newell. 

England 2 - 0 Austria. 

Austria's chance comes at 13 minutes with a corner that translates into their goal. Gutmann brings Austria to the score sheet. 

England 2 - 1 Austria

England are not giving up- they are determined to gain back their 2 goal lead with repeated attempts. Ultimately Ritter is too strong in her skill. Cox does well to prevent an attempt from Albrecht. Austria are equally as persistent in their attempts, with notable attempts from Krassnig. In terms of play both teams are fairly equal in effort. While England are dominating in possession and attempts. A strong attempt comes from Agyemang until Ritter saves it. Austria are not laying down low though by any means. After a strong run from Lia, the 2 goal advantage returns. No defenders for Austria are in sight as she gets the third!

England 3 - 1 Austria.

A really strong first half for the young lionesses with three goals, dominated possession and attempts. Austria need to step up in the next half. 

No changes for the second half. Both teams continue to show potential, but in the first few minutes of the second half, England are still showing to be the stronger team. Cox is strategic at 51 minutes as she knocks an Austrian goal out with her finger tips. Spinn and Spiess continue to attempt the goal, but just cannot translate. However Agyemang can! England make it 4! Great play by England. 

England 4 - 1 Austria. 

The tension is getting to the Austrian players while things momentarily become scrappy on the pitch. England are doing well to  keep their cool. Medics are brought on for Albrecht. She is okay to continue to play. Medics are quickly back on, this time for Las. She continues to play. In her return to play, she excels in defence. However, Las, Brown, Baker come off for Maltby, Parkinson and Gale. Spinn comes off for Reiterer. Sisic is off for Breznick. Medics come on again this half for goal scorer Gutmann with what looks to be a knee injury. She is okay to continue. The Austrian medics are kept busy and are back on- this time for Rapf who is quick to return to play. 

Changes for Austria. Rapf off for Keckeis. Krassnig off for Fankhauser. As the changes happen Gale gets a gorgeous goal for England. An open goal with poor defence from Austria. 

England 5 -1 Austria. 

Goal scorers Lia and Agyemang are off for Thompson and Murphy. Ziletkina is off for Adamu. Adamu has been a real stand out sub in these last few minutes. It is a question why she was not brought on earlier as she could of had a real impact. Talking of super subs- Gale has an impressive run and almost assist that goes slightly wide in 90+2. 

Overall in this half, England have continued to be strategic and play well. Austria's play has lapsed with repeated stops for medics to come onto the pitch and giving away the ball too easily. It is clear that this is a team that have not played together since 2024. Today's match has been extremely positive for the young lionesses with a lot to learn for Austria. 

U23 England v U23 Sweden, WU23 Euros 02.12.24

Hatty Ruddick

The Young Lionesses head to Yorkshire to face a familiar side in Sweden, hoping to gain a top two finish in their group for the WU23 Euros Competition. Having beat Sweden last year 3-1, the under 23s will be hoping to secure qualification to the next round tonight. 

England Starting 11: Keating, Herron, Denton, Mcloughlin, Goldie, Silcock, Robinson, Kendall, Enderby, Brasero, Goodwin.

Sweden Starting 11: Hjern, Ostlund, Reidy, Selerud, Pelgander, Leidhammar, Wangerheim, Duljan, Bergström, Cato, Sandberg

The game starts with an early save from Keating who has recently returned to the U23 squad after a spell with the seniors.  England respond by bringing the by rushing the ball up the pitch. Sweden are strong at bringing the ball put of play to  interrupt the flow. Kendall puts an end to that with a strong goal at 3 minutes. 

England 1 - 0 Sweden. 

Sweden's pattern of bringing the ball out continues. This tactic seems to be  when the defence is struggling to capture England's strong runs towards goal.  Sweden try to make an early addition to the score line, but the English defence is strong.  Robinson is showing her passion tonight having scraps with Sandberg, but it is absolutley working in her favor as England are dominating these early minutes in possession and  successful passes.  Both teams need to channel this passion with three fouls in the space of two minutes from both teams with multiple players on the floor and the ref stopping play.  A notable fall from Duljan stops play after  originally continuing play. She is okay to continue. 

Swedish possession starts to become heavy 15 minutes in. They are determined for this goal. Reidy goes for the goal, but it is well defended by  Goldie.  Soon after Ostlund comes close to a goal that is slightly wide. Keating was in a perfect position and this would have likely been saved had it been on target. If England want a secure qualification to the next round tonight they need to pick up. A free kick for England won and taken by Kendall comes close to the second goal, but it is slightly too high. So far tonight, Herron is defending fantastically and thwarts an attempt from Sweden at 22 minutes. Keating is being kept busy tonight with another shot that goes wide. Sweden are vying for this goal and it comes at 23 minutes from Reidy. 

England 1 - 1 Sweden

Mcloughlin tries to win it back for England, but is stopped in her tracks. England have got their motivation back and are once again winning the possession race. They are working for this goal and Brasero comes close until Hjern saves her attempt. Selerud pushes Robinson off the pitch at 32 minutes winning England a free kick at the corner flag. Kendall takes directly into Hjern's hands. Silcock goes for goal, but goes wide. Sweden continue in their aggressive style of play, however, it is not working in their favour with free kicks continually going in their home side's way. 

Robinson tries to finish the half at 2-1, but her attempt is saved by Hjern. The Swedish goal keeper seems determined to not repeat her mistake from 3 minutes in. Silcock is doing her work at the other edn of the pitch with fantastic defence against Sandberg and Leidhammar. She's making Keating's job easier at the end of the 45 minutes. 

With 1 minute added time, Herron seems to be having problems for the second time in the game. She has been a star player of this half, making an impact in all ends of the pitch, but she is down once again, this time with her ankle and medics are on. There needs to be a consideration at half time for her wellbeing about staying on. 

The half ends with an equal score line. 

The second half begins with English possession. No changes for either side. The first attempt of this half comes from Brasero, who has a great attempt going slightly wide at 48 minutes. Sweden are quick to come back up the pitch, but Denton prevents any danger. This doesn't last long as Sweden take the lead at 53 minutes with an own goal from Keating in an attempt to save.

England 1 - 2 Sweden

Play is paused and medics are on at 56 minutes for a Swedish injury. Play quickly continues. 

Just before the changes, medics are on for Silcock. Change for England. Godfrey, Grant and Simpson are on for goal scorer Kendall, Herron and Goodwin. After her injury, Silcock is off for Bourne. Silcock is seriously injured with over 10 medics on the pitch and two stretchers. Play has been paused for over 10 minutes. 

Play continues at 8.35 after pausing at 8.21. WOSO Sidelines Reports wishes Hannah Silcock the best. 

Keating comes in with a great save at 78 minutes and gets the ball to the other side of the pitch quickly. She repeats this at 81 minutes, rectifying her earlier error. Hjern is also rectifying her concession early on with some great saves in this half. 

Change for Sweden. Pelgander is off for Eriksson. Duljan goes for the third, but is stopped by Keating. Godfrey also tries for a second, but Hjern stops her. England will be hoping for two goals in the 14 minutes added time. 

Changes for England and Sweden. Goodwin is on for Enderby and Nildén is on for Bergström. Goodwin gets straight on and tries for an attempt but is stopped by mutiple Swedish defenders. 

Brasero receives a yellow for a nasty foul on Duljan. Free kick taken by Reidy. Godfrey and Goodwin make their presence in this game known with a fantastic attempt at 96 minutes that is slightly wide. This was particularly unfortunate after a fantastic run from Godfrey. In the final 5 minutes Bourne makes another great attempt, that is too high. England want this equaliser, but it may be too late. 

Change for England in the final minutes. Gunning-Williams is on for Brasero. 

England are awarded a late penalty at the time they need it most. Taken by Robinson, but saved by Hjern. 

An unfortunate night for the young Lioneses, who played a good game, but in both Swedish goals were unlucky tactically with small fumbles that cost them greatly in goals. Both teams played extremely well, but Sweden remained too strong in their defence. 

England 1 - 2 Sweden.

U19 England v U19 Serbia, U19 Euros, 17.07.24

Hatty Ruddick

Since winning their first Euros match 10-0 against Lithuania, the Young Lionesses are now facing Serbia in their next group stage match, who lost 3-1 to France previously. 

The starting line up for England is Cox, Rabjohn, Akpan, Newell, Aspin, Potter, Agyemang, Godfrey (C), Worsey, Lia, Dennis.

The starting line up for Serbia is Aleksić, Gaković, Stojić, Matijević, Sarić, Gajić, Ilić, Čingelić, Uvalin, Matejić (C), Stokić.

England are dominating the start of the match, managing to get past a confused Serbian midfield with both teams running many yards up and down the pitch in the early minutes. Strong start for both teams. While Serbia have been strong in getting the ball to the penalty area, English defence has impressed. It is clear that this will not be another Lithuania. 

A tackle between Cinvilec and Godfrey leads to a free kick and an attempt from Aspin for England. Good attempt, just slightly off-target. Soon after Dennis goes down after a fair challenge from Serbia. Medics are on for her. After a few minutes Dennis is back on, while looking to be in discomfort. 

Serbia have their first attempt from Matijvić which is saved well by England. 

England win a corner that goes into the post for a second corner. Both taken by Lia. Aspin goes for an attempt that is saved on the line by Serbian Suric. Serbia then warn England off with their second attempt which is missed again. Soon after Matijvić goes down with a knee injury. She is soon back on.

Matijvić proves she is okay with an attempt that is saved after a foul on Rabjohn brings medics on again for a third time in 25 minutes. Rabjohn goes off on a stretcher, Brown comes on. England respond with an attempt from Agyemang that goes over. 

Potter impresses with a strong tackle that allows captain Godfrey to have an attempt that just gets cleared by opposing captain Matijvić. England responds with a second attempt from Potter that is saved. England are dominating the number of attempts and are showing to be the stronger team as Serbia concede a foul. Matijvić goes for a goal that should of gone in that just misses. 

Stokić receives a yellow card for a foul on Potter. She will miss the next match. Potter responds with an attempt that is saved. 

Dennis is awarded a yellow for a foul on Stokić. The free kick from Serbia is close to the goal, but just goes over. 

Cox continues to keep England in the game as Matijvić goes for goal again. 

7 minutes of added time. In this time Lia has a saved attempt and match rivals Stokić concedes a free kick for a foul on Dennis. The match is becoming very equal with both teams being strong in attempts and defence. A shift that neither team should be ashamed of while goalless. 

As the second half begins there are no changes for either side. Godfrey concedes a free kick on Sarić leading to a Serbian corner and missed attempt by Ilić. Serbia go again with a blocked attempt for Čingelić. 

Lia responds with a strong attempt that is saved for England. What is clear is that both teams are hungry for this match and are trying for goal. There is no clear front runner yet. This comes as Godfrey goes off for Liverpool's Enderby. Potter is now captain. 

Serbia has two close attempts from Matejić and Čingelić, both saved by Cox. The Serbian side are pressing well and are showing strong in all areas of the pitch today. Regardless of the result, Serbia should be proud today. 

After a good round of pressure from Serbia, a break in the match comes for an injury for Aspin, who is soon back up. 

Potter is off for Pritchard, who scored a hatrick in the last match. Dennis comes on for Bose. Aspin is off for Reid. Hopefully these changes bring a spell of energy to England's scoreline. 

As the changes are made Serbia score. Matejić makes it 1-0 to Serbia. They go for another and then Uvalin is caught offside. 

Pritchard tries to reply to Serbia's goal with a strong ball, but ultimately it is saved. This is followed by another injury for England with Akpan down, but soon back playing. 

Lia tries to equalise, but hits the far post. The young Lionesses have just over 10 minutes to equalise. 

A hand ball from Ilić gives England their chance to equalise with Lia taking the kick that does not materialise. As Agyemang goes for goal, Pritchard fouls Sarić that brings medics on the pitch. She is quickly players again. 

A lifeline comes for England after a Serbian handball. Josivic comes on for Uvilin before the goal scoring penalty from Enderby! 1-1. 

England have time to win with 7 minutes added time. Serbia use this time well with attempts being made but saved by Cox. Serbian corner. Cox clears the attempt. A good run up from England leading to a throwing which Ilić will not allow England to take leading to a second Serbian yellow card. Ageymang responds with an attempt that hits the post. 

Serbian changes Ilic is off for Majstorović. Gakovic is off for Milovanović. Serbian corner which is again saved by Cox. Serbia are not giving up in the last minute. 

Ultimately a point to both teams. It was well played by both teams. There is some more work to do for England, but not a bad game from either teams.