England Supporters Club

England Women win

Posted by Team England at 12:43 on Thursday 05 March 2015

A Jodie Taylor hat-trick helped England Women defeat Australia 3-0, a result which kept Mark Sampson’s side in the running for a shot at a third Cyprus Cup title.

The Three Lions, winners in 2009 and 2013, opened this year’s campaign with a 3-1 victory over Finland – and the win over Australia has guaranteed them a place in next Wednesday’s final against the top side in Group A.

Taylor, making just her fifth appearance, fired England ahead early on with her first international goal, a tremendous angled effort, before doubling the advantage on 17 minutes.

She came close to her treble strike twice in the second half before finally claiming her hat-trick with a poacher's finish late on.

There was still time for Sampson to hand Notts County’s Amy Turner, a late replacement for Alex Scott, a senior team debut as England saw the game out with ease.

Only Laura Bassett and Alex Greenwood kept their place in the starting eleven from Wednesday, with Chelsea captain Katie Chapman making her first international appearance, her 83rd in total, since September 2010.

Liverpool skipper Gemma Bonner was forced to sit out following her red card on Wednesday.

Despite the nine changes, Sampson’s side got off to a lightning start. The game was just eight minutes old when Taylor broke the deadlock with her maiden England goal.

Jill Scott won possession in the centre circle, drove forward and laid the ball off to Taylor on the right-hand side of the Australia box. The Portland Thorns striker took the pass in her stride and unleashed an angled drive which fizzed beyond Matildas’ keeper Brianna Davey.

Things got even better for Taylor and England soon after.

The 28-year-old linked up with strike partner Fran Kirby and beat Davey once again, this time with a curing effort from the opposite side of the box.

England 'keeper Karen Bardsley was on-hand to field an Alanna Kennedy free-kick midway through the first half but after Taylor’s brace there was little in the way of action before the break.