Beth Mead scored a scintillating hat-trick inside 14 minutes to help England move top of Women’s World Cup Qualifying Group D with a 4-0 win against Northern Ireland on a historic night at Wembley.
England hit the woodwork twice in the first half, with Lauren Hemp close to scoring her first England goal with a shot after a driving run, and Alex Greenwood also rattling the crossbar with a stunning long-range effort as Kenny Shiels’ obstinate visitors somehow kept it to 0-0 at the break.
Beth Mead and Beth England came on in an inspired double switch from England manager Sarina Wiegman, and less than a minute later, Mead pivoted acrobatically to flick an effort into the corner and finally break the deadlock.
England then tapped in on the line from Hemp’s chipped cross, before Hemp created another, gliding past several would-be tacklers and providing a centre for Mead to volley home.
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jacqui Burns then smothered a through ball to deny England, but Mead slid home the loose ball to leave the 23,000 fans at Wembley delighted.
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Wiegman’s side move to top of Group D, overtaking previous leaders Austria, to mark a perfect night on the Lionesses’ first competitive match at Wembley.