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England hit double figures again

North Macedonia 0

England 10 (Mead 5,12,47,53, Toone 24,74,78, White 41, Stanway 45,56)

Beth Mead and Ella Toone each scored hat-tricks as England hit double figures in their World Cup qualifying group match in Skopje.

England were on the front foot from the start and the breakthrough came in the fifth minute, Lauren Hemp drilling the ball across goal for Beth Mead to slot home from close range.

Mead was soon to make it two, albeit in fortuitous circumstances. Played in down the right, the striker produced a cross which floated over North Macedonia goalkeeper Viktorija Panchurova and dropped inside the far post for her second goal.

Ellen White headed against the post from a Demi Stokes cross and the rampant Hemp shot narrowly wide as England pressed for more goals and they were rewarded again when Ella Toone gave Panchurova no chance with a strike from the edge of the area.

Panchurova made a good save to deny Mead a third but a golden moment for England’s record goalscorer was to come as half time approached, White rising high to head in a cross from Toone to become the first player ever to reach the 50-goal mark for the England women’s senior team.

Georgia Stanway became the fourth England player to find the net, on the stroke of half time when being found by Hemp’s low cross, leaving the Lionesses five ahead at the interval.

England showed no sign of letting up as the game restarted and Mead was soon to record her third hat-trick in the qualifying campaign, controlling the ball before slotting it past Panchurova. Mead was not finished there and six minutes later, she netted her fourth, powering home the rebound after Hemp’s initial shot had been blocked. England continued their ruthless streak, with Stanway turning her marker in the area before drilling home the eighth.

Toone scored her second goal after being set up by substitute Alessia Russo and just two minutes later, Toone became the second hat-trick scorer on the night, her second treble in the qualifying group and her ninth goal in just 12 internationals.

Nikita Parris got the ball in the net six minutes later and although her header was ruled out for being offside, England had once again cruised through a very one-sided game.

North Macedonia: Viktorija Panchurova, Ane Boseska, Elena Petrovska (sub Angela Stojkovska 55mins), Pavlina Nikolovska (sub Kristina Petrushevska 80mins), Hristina Joshevska, Sara Velkova, Eli Jakovska, Hava Mustafa (sub Elma Shemsovikj 45mins), Natasa Andonova (sub Aleksandra Markovska 80mins), Ulza Maksuti, Gentjana Rochi (sub Afrodita Saliihi 54mins). Subs not used: Daniela Veleska, Teodora Gjorgjevska, Lina Samardzievska, Ivana Nikolova, Choneva, Kristina Pavlovska.

England: Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze (sub Rachel Daly 71mins), Demi Stokes, Keira Walsh (sub Katie Zelem 71mins), Jess Carter, Millie Bright, Beth Mead, Georgia Stanway (sub Jill Scott 61mins), Ellen White (sub Alessia Russo 71mins), Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp (sub Nikita Parris 60mins). Subs not used: Mary Earps, Ellie Roebuck, Gabby George, Jordan Nobbs.