England C end International Challenge Trophy campaign on high

ENGLAND C finished their International Challenge Trophy campaign on a high by seeing off Estonia U23 at FC Halifax Town’s Shay home.

Boss Paul Fairclough was determined his side wouldn’t finish bottom of their ICT group following their elimination last month.

Non-League’s Three Lions lost their first two group games to Slovakia and Turkey.

But they restored some pride with a convincing performance in front of a healthy home 2,388 crowd.

Solihull Moors’ Omar Bogle has been in good form in this season’s Conference North. The striker took less than five minutes to score on his C debut.

Andy Yiadom crossed from the right and Bogle nipped in front of his man to turn the ball into the net.

England’s good start continued. Harry Beautyman forced Matvei Igonen into a good low save and Chey Dunkley headed wide.

The home side were getting joy on both flanks. Forest Green Rovers winger Elliott Frear scarpered clear before delivering an inviting cross, but a full-stretch Bogle couldn’t direct the ball towards goal.

Estonia, who were also out of the competition before the game, equalised against the run of play just after the half-hour.

Brent Lepistu picked the ball up on the right and curled a gorgeous shot over Ebbsfleet keeper Brandon Hall.

Beautyman couldn’t quite get on the end of Kinglsey James’ low cross as England went in search of an instant response.

But the Welling playmaker was celebrating soon after. England broke at pace, Frear whipped in a cross, Bogle cushioned the ball into Beautyman’s path and he crashed England back in front.

Yiadom was a real threat, and he extended England’s lead on 66 minutes. James won the ball in midfield and released the pacy Barnet man. He drove into the box and rifled the ball high beyond Igonen.

Chester midfielder James then got a piece of the action himself when he headed into the top corner for 4-1.

There was time for Estonia substitute Martin Kase to cut the deficit with a penalty, but it couldn’t dampen England’s impressive night in Halifax.

England C: Hall (Ollerenshaw 90), Halls, Dunkley, Parkes, Brown, Yiadom, James (Pearson 85), Nolan (Gallagher 80), Frear, Beautyman (Jennings 80), Bogle (Burrow 67)

Estonia U23: Igonen, Aloe, Vihmann, Kaldoja, Reintam, Lepistu, Kauber (Sobstenko 73), Elhi (Gussev 64), Tjapkin(Kase 64), Prosa (Junolainen 83), Sinilaid,
Subs not used: Aland, Avilov, Kaljumae