ENGLAND LIONESSES 2-1 SPAIN

ENGLAND LIONESSES recorded a well-deserved 2-1 victory over Spain at a packed County Ground as Phil Neville’s side continued their march towards the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Total Sport Swindon's Ryan Walker gives his match report.

Goals from Ellen White and Bethany Mead were enough for England as a late strike from Aitana Bonmati served as little more than a consolation goal for the visitors.

Spain began the match replicating the style of play that the country has become famous for over the years with the away side dominating possession in the opening exchanges. Three successive corners within the opening ten minutes saw Spain constantly pen the Lionesses back into their own half with the home side struggling to string passes together.

Spain’s Alexia Segura fired off the first shot of the game in the 9th minute but it was comfortably over the bar of England debutant Ellie Roebuck.

Spain continued to dominate with neat exchanges through the middle causing problems for England’s defence but a lack of end product saw chances wasted.

Attempting to play on the break appeared to be England’s best option as a three-pronged attack consisting of Barcelona’s Toni Duggan, Ellen White and Bethany Mead, looked to get in behind Spain’s backline.

A promising opportunity for England in the 22nd minute should’ve given them the lead only for a last-ditch block from Cejudo to deny White the games opening goal.

But chances continued to come for the home side as Mead’s mazing runs down the right-wing caused havoc. Chasing onto a through ball, Mead cut back onto her left foot before firing a shot off that was straight at Spanish keeper Panos.

After a shaky start, Phil Neville’s lionesses began to create chance after chance as the atmosphere inside the County Ground started to build.

With half-time approaching, and with Spain on the backfoot, England finally reaped the rewards of their attacking efforts after a brilliant period of interchanging passing ended with Mead giving England the lead in the 35th minute.

Picking up a through ball from midfield, Duggan rushed down on Spain’s goal before playing a delicate ball into the path of White who’s low cross to the back post was tapped home by the sliding Mead.

England deservedly in front ticked down the clock by keeping a grasp on possession as Spain looked short of ideas with the half-time whistle blowing just moments later.

High on confidence after taking the lead, England began the second half in complete contrast to the first as Ellen White doubled the lead within two minutes of play resuming.

Jill Scott, 25-yards-out chipped a perfectly weighted pass into White who smashed the ball first time into the top corner as Panos was left helpless.

Two goals in front seemed to eliminate any sense of optimism that the Spanish players entered into the second half with as loose passes and a lack of quality in the final third made things all to easy for the Lionesses.

England’s centre-back partnership of Jill Scott and Leah Williamson remained relatively untested, whilst Millie Bright and Stanway patrolled the midfield under no pressure from their counterparts.

England’s stranglehold on proceedings continued for the majority of the second half but an element of complacency crept into the home sides game as Aitana Bonmati pulled a goal back for Spain in the 66th minute.

A goal out of nothing for Spain should’ve prompted a reaction from the England players but a shot from Jennifer Fuentes immediately after play resumed caught the Lionesses defence unawares as Mary Earps was forced into making a save.

The goal seemed to dampen spirits as the noise created by the 13,000 England fans inside the County Ground now reflected a tone of tension and awkwardness, a feeling that was reflected by the on-pitch action.

Time passed by with England looking to see out the remaining minutes but a shocking moment in the 87th minute should’ve given Spain their equaliser. A long ball over the top of the Lionesses defence was brought down well by Esther Gonzalez, Earps came flying out of her goal, slipped, but Gonzalez’ chip went wide.

England and Phil Neville knew that Spain should’ve been level but the Lionesses held on to record a 2-1 win under the floodlights in Swindon as they march on towards the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.