Report: England MU17s 5-1 Northern Ireland

England men's under-17s began their European Championship qualification with a 5-1 victory over Northern Ireland at St George’s Park, with substitute Baylee Dipepa grabbing a brace.

Although dominating possession in the early stages, the home side conceded after just 18 minutes, as Callum Burnside found the back of the net for Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, a clever finish from striker Divine Mukasa found the equaliser for England, making it 1-1 going into the interval.

The second half began a more even affair, however five minutes of madness for Greg Lincoln’s side saw Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri slot a left-footed finish in off the post, and a brace from substitute Dipepa put England ahead by three.

With just two minutes remaining of the 90, a goalkeeping error from a free kick just outside the box, meant Mukasa earnt himself his second of the day, and England’s fifth, as they made it a very convincing win against their rivals from over the sea.

It was a slow start from both sides, but it was the hosts who took control of possession from early, with Harry Amass and Jesse Derry looking dangerous from the flanks, winning several corners, troubling the visitors, with a breakthrough imminent.

However, it was Northern Ireland who would strike first against the run of play, as Senan Devine received a superb infield pass from captain Blaine Mcclure, before finding the feet of Burnside, whose second effort from a deflection found the back of the net and travelled through the legs of keeper Spike Brits.

Despite the goal, England continued to pile on the pressure, and just eleven minutes later they grabbed the equaliser. After a fantastic bit of play from Derry once again, the ball ricocheted off a green shirt and fell to Manchester City forward Mukasa, who finished calmly from just inside the 18-yard-box with the outside of his left boot, making it all square at St George’s Park at the break.

Soon after half time, both sides had chances and looked bright, but in the 63rd minute, captain Christopher Rigg, played an pass towards the edge of the Northern Ireland box, finding the left foot of Nwaneri, who made no mistake with a classy finish.

Three minutes later, right back Leo Shahar delivered a sublime cross into the box to find substitute Dipepa, whose header looped over William Murdock between the sticks. Almost immediately after, Nwaneri’s driving run down the left flank ended with a perfect pass to the feet of Dipepa, who made it 4-1 with his second of the day.

Northern Ireland looked dangerous going forward, but failed to really trouble Brits in goal, and a mistake from Murdock summed things up for the away side, as Mukasa made it five for England.

The boys in white remain unbeaten against their opponents, now winning four out of four, and look forward to their next encounter against Hungary.

England: 1 Spike Brits (Man City) 2 Leo Shahar (Newcastle) 4 Joshua King (Fulham) 7 Jesse Derry (Crystal Palace) 8 Christopher Rigg (C) (Sunderland) 9 Luca Fletcher (Man City) 10 Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal) 12 Jaden Dixon (Stoke) 16 Samuel Amissah (Fulham) 18 Harry Amass (Manchester United) 20 Divine Mukasa (Man City)

Substitutes: 3 Christian McFarlane (New York City) for Amass 58, 14 Baylee Dipepa (Port Vale) for Fletcher 58, 15 Jay Robinson (Southampton) for Nwaneri 72, 17 Ryan Mcaidoo (Chelsea) for Derry 72, 19 Ollie Harrison (Chelsea) for King 67.

Substitutes not used: 13 Oliver Whatmuff (Man City), 11 Trevan Sanusi (Newcastle).

Head Coach: Greg Lincoln