Isobel Goodwin Goal downs France in close encounter

Isobel Goodwin celebrating her game-winning goal. Photo: Lionesses

England U23 1-0 France U23

London City Lionesses forward Isobel Goodwin scored her first U23 International Goal on her first start, in a tight encounter with France in Hertfordshire at Stevenage FC’s Lamex Stadium, in with both goalkeepers, Kayla Rendell and Marie Petiteau acquitted themselves very well. 

Emma Coates handed starts to four different players after the defeat against Germany, with Kayla Rendell taking the gloves and Isobel Goodwin, Olivia McLaughlin and Missy Goodwin being handed opportunities from the start. 

Anouk Denton also started, back in the county it all began for the West Ham defender, with the centre back growing up and playing in nearby St Albans. 

France named the tricky Vicky Becho as their Number 7, going up against Tottenham Hotspur’s Ella Morris on the left hand side, with the fullback starting back to back England games.

England hared down the right to create the first opening barely ten minutes in, with Katie Robinson’s pass just spinning away from Isobel  Goodwin as she steamed into the area. 

France fashioned their first effort of the game, with Laurina Hannequin sending a dipping effort just wide of Rendell’s left hand post, who had it covered.

Becho was at it again down the left moments later, spinning past Naomi Layzell before seeing a rather poor cross float over Rendell’s crossbar. Margaux Le Mouel then had to be alert defensively to stave off London City’s Isobel Goodwin under pressure. 

The live wire Becho fired off another effort just before the half hour, with this one testing Kayla Rendell but the Man United stopper comfortably holding. Just after the half hour, France saw a header from Jade Rastocle, despite it’s lack in power crash back off the bar in the latest worry for an England side that were being pushed further and further back by France.

The deadlock was broken on minute 34, when a corner was only half cleared to Missy Bo Kearns, who whipped a delicious ball into the front post and Isobel Goodwin at the second time of asking got the ball past the goalkeeper and smashed it into an empty net to score her first goal at U23 level for her country on her first start at that level.

France were defending well despite the goal and Hilary Diaz had to be in top gear to get back and outpace Katie Robinson, who got in behind barely a minute later and bizarrely, opted to pull the ball across rather than shoot, with France being able to clear and go into the break 1-0 down.

Half Time -  England 1-0 France

England stormed out the traps in the second half and Spurs’ Ella Morris latched onto a ball from Bo-Kearns, with the formers stinging effort well clawed away by Marie Petiteau in the France goal.

The two Goodwins then somehow didn’t add to England’s lead in the same sequence, with Missy Bo Keans flicking the ball beautifully into the path of Isobel Goodwin, who crashed her effort off the corner of bar and post. With her namesake, Missy somehow seeing the rebound, clawed wide by the France keeper. 

Kayla Rendell, who has found football hard to come by since her move to United, was alert on the edge of her own box to stop a France through ball. 

Some nice neat interplay from England just shy of the hour almost yielded a second, with Katie Robinson crossing for Olivia McLaughlin who’s deep run hadn’t been picked up, but her effort was well saved by Petiteau. 

Coates then rang the changes, with Michelle Agyemang, Katie Reid and Niamh Herron replacing Isobel Goodwin, Naomi Layzell and Ella Morris. 

Rendell was once again alert, to paw away a Becho effort in the wingers last action before being replaced by Madeline Roth, with Judith Coquet also departing for Lou-Ann Joly.

France worked their way down the left again, with Hawa Sangare’s header held well by Rendell, who was acquitting herself very well between the posts tonight on her sixth Young Lionesses appearance.

Hawa Sangare was then replaced by Jade Le Guilly, with Tara Elimbi Gilbert coming on for Fiona Liaigre for the final thirteen minutes. 

Michelle Ayemang then saw an effort blocked, with Missy Goodwin making way for Lexi Lloyd-Smith for the final ten, however England nearly shot themselves in the foot straight away, giving the ball away again cheaply, with Rendell again on hand to hold the effort. 

Maisie Symonds was then brought off in place of Ruby Grant for the final four minutes, as Lou-Ann Joly took aim from just outside the area but fired well over the bar.

It was almost a carbon copy chance two minutes later, with Rendell again getting herself behind an effort, this time from Jade Le Guilly, just as five minutes were added onto the end of the game. 

France failed to make anything of it, and England had a final chance, with Lexi Lloyd-Smith shooting at the keeper in the final action of a thoroughly entertaining clash.

Full Time - England 1-0 France 

Goal - Isobel Goodwin 35’