Hope Powell's side came through their second game in three days with another victory, thanks to an incredible finish from Fara Williams.
After storming past Russia 6-0 on Thursday night this was a different test for England, but a very sweet victory nonetheless against Scotland and another crucial preparation match for the World Cup.
With eight changes from the side that comfortably dealt with Russia on Thursday evening, Hope Powell looked to give a number of players more experience and more playing time. Stephanie Houghton made her full debut at right back, while Alex Scott showed her versatility by starting on the right wing.
The Three Lions came close to scoring in the sixth minute, first Fara Williams rose highest to meet a Sue Smith corner only to see her effort cleared off the line. From that clearance Kelly Smith fired in a volley that went narrowly wide of the far post.
Alex Scott and Sue Smith were also presented with promising opportunities through fine work from Kelly Smith, both chances came after captain Smith showed fine skill to glide through the defence.
On the half hour mark England took the lead will a bolt from the blue as Everton midfielder Fara Williams delivered a spectacular opener. Taking the ball down 35 yards out, Williams spotted Gemma Fay off her line and duly punished the keeper.
Joanne Love then squandered a golden opportunity to level the scores just three minutes later, with indecision in the England defence allowing the ball to fall kindly at the feet of the Scottish midfielder but her shot was wayward.
After the break the chances continued to come for the Three Lions and Sue Smith had the most presentable opportunity but was unable to work her Leeds United teammate Gemma Fay.
Making her senior bow between the sticks, Carly Telford was called into action almost immediately as Julie Fleeting fired a dangerous free kick toward the top corner. Following a surging run from Stephanie Houghton and a fine pass to her former Sunderland colleague Jill Scott, England almost doubled their advantage. Scott was able to round the last defender but her low cross was behind the onrushing forwards in the penalty area.
Anna Signeul's side provided a tough test for England and as part of their trio of friendly games this week, it will be an experience that will undoubtedly benefit them come the World Cup in September.
Teams:
England: 1 Siobhan Chamberlain (13 Carly Telford 45), 2 Stephanie Houghton, 3 Rachel Unitt (18 Corinne Yorston 78), 4 Jill Scott, 5 Laura Bassett, 6 Mary Phillip, 7 Alex Scott (12 Lindsay Johnson 78), 8 Fara Williams, 9 Lianne Sanderson (14 Amanda Barr 58), 10 Kelly Smith (c) (17 Katie Chapman 45), 11 Sue Smith (15 Jo Potter 58)
Subs Not Used: 16 Vicky Exley, 19 Anita Asante, 20 Michelle Hickmott, 21 Kelly McDougall
Scotland: 1 Gemma Fay, 2 Rhonda Jones, 3 Leanne Ross (16 Jayne Sommerville 84), 4 Ifeoma Dieke, 5 Amy McDonald, 6 Joanne Love, 7 Amanda Burns, 8 Kirsty McBride (17 Denise Brolly 81), 9 Megan Sneddon (18 Kim Little 57), 10 Julie Fleeting, 13 Pauline Hamill (11 Suzanne Malone 66)
Subs Not Used: 12 Joanna Hutcheson, 14 Suzanne Grant, 15 Julie Ferguson
Referee: M P Russell
Attendance: 2,066***********************************************************************************************************************************
England profit from Fara's wonder goal
England 1 (Williams 29) .............. Scotland 0
A moment of brilliance from midfielder Fara Williams earned England a narrow 1-0 victory over Scotland in their latest World Cup warm-up match in sunny conditions at Wycombe.
Hope Powell made eight changes from the side which had hammered Russia three days earlier, including full debuts for Steph Houghton and Lianne Sanderson as well as starts for Siobhan Chamberlain, Laura Bassett and Sue Smith. Anna Signeul opted to field arguably her strongest line up with captain Julie Fleeting playing a lone role up front, whilst Amy McDonald stepped into the centre of defence.
England could have gone ahead as early as the fifth minute, as a Sue Smith corner was met by Fara Williams whose header was cleared off the line by Kirsty McBride, with Jill Scott volleying the rebound just over from the edge of the area.
Williams again went close from another Sue Smith cross, this time her header was inches over the bar. However the Everton midfielder was to stamp her class on the match just before the half hour when she beat Gemma Fay with an exquisite lob from 35 yards to put England into the lead.
Scotland responded well to the setback and could well have been on level terms within three minutes as Rhonda Jones pumped a long free kick into the area which was not dealt by the England defence and Joanne Love shot wide of the far post when well placed.
Alex Scott clipped the outside of the post at the other end and Kelly Smith hooked an effort straight at Fay following a fine pass from Williams as England began to hit their stride.
Jill Scott brought out a save from Fay as she latched on to Sanderson's pass but there was no further scoring in the first half, England taking their one-goal lead into the interval.
England made two changes at the break, giving a debut to goalkeeper Carly Telford and Katie Chapman replacing Kelly Smith, with Mary Phillip taking over the captain's armband.
Alex Scott headed over from a free kick in the opening minutes and, with England seeking a second goal, Sue Smith was just off target when sliding to meet Alex Scott's low cross.
There was a scare for England as Telford's clearance from an awkward back pass went straight to Kim Little but the youngster was closed down quickly by Bassett who blocked her shot. At the other end, Alex Scott similarly saw an effort charged down by Leanne Ross but the introduction of Suzanne Malone up front breathed new life into Scotland, who were to come very close to levelling the scores.
After winning a free kick 25 yards from goal, Fleeting's quickly taken shot looked destined for the top corner but Telford reacted well, touching the ball onto the bar and the rebound was cleared.
Telford excelled herself even further five minutes later as a flowing Scotland move saw Megan Sneddon and Fleeting combine to release McBride whose shot was brilliantly saved at full length.
Some outstanding play on the left from Jo Potter almost led to a second England goal, tricking her way past two players before her far post was volleyed just wide by Houghton. Scotland then hit back, Fleeting's header being cleared off the line by Williams as England held out for the victory.
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By Tony Leighton
A goal by Everton midfielder Fara Williams gave England their 19th victory in 20 meetings with Scotland.
But a team showing nine changes from Thursday night's 6-0 win against Russia struggled at times against a battling Scottish side.
The fluency shown against the Russians was never in evidence in a largely disjointed display.
And in the second half, Scotland twice went close to cancelling out William's 30th-minute goal.
With Williams to the fore, however, England bossed the first half.
The Everton player had a sixth-minute header cleared off the line by Hibernian midfielder Kirsty McBride.
She then went close again when her 16th-minute header flew inches over the bar.
But she was bang on target on the half-hour, directing a 40-yard lob over back-peddling goalkeeper Gemma Fay and into the roof of the net.
Soccer Locker midfielder Ifeoma Dieke wasted a close-range equalising chance three minutes later.
But at the other end, either side of half-time, wingers Alex Scott and Sue Smith sent shots just wide of the post.
The Scots began to take control midway through the second half, however.
And England had a narrow escape when Arsenal striker Julie Fleeting's 68th-minute free-kick was pushed on to the bar by substitute goalkeeper Carly Telford.
Telford pulled of an even better save five minutes later, diving to turn McBride's 15-yard drive past the far post.
But the visitors' challenge faded in the closing stages and Sunderland right-back Steph Houghton almost stretched England's lead with an 83rd-minute volley over the bar.
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AULD ENEMY TRIUMPH OVER SCOTS AT ADAMS PARK, WYCOMBE
In the second of three World Cup preparation matches for England, they faced the Scots after a convincing 6-0 victory over Russia earlier in the week.
England despite having a great opportunity in 6 minutes when Fara Williams effort from a Sue Smith corner was cleared off the line, took 30 minutes before breaking the deadlock.
Player of the match Williams spotting Scotland keeper Gemma Fay off her line, shot from 35 yards to score the only game of the game.
Just minute’s later Scotland had a great opportunity to equalise when the ball fell kindly for Scotland midfielder Jo Love, whose wayward shot, Scotland would despair of later, as it was one of their best chances of the match.
Despite pressure from England, Scotland Captain Julie Fleeting came close in the second half with a stinging free kick which was heading for the top corner, of Carly Telford’s England goal, this danger passed.
This was a really tough test for Anna Signeul and her team, but the Scotland coach was pleased with her teams performance and general organisation which saw the goal from Everton’s Fara Williams is the difference between the two teams at the end of the day.
Signeul said 'England are preparing for the Women's World Cup later this year in China, and Hope (Powell), has spent a considerable amount of time preparing her team, therefore we are delighted with this result, it is a very credible result for Scotland when you take into consideration the fact that England beat Russia 6-0 earlier this week, as Russia are in the top ranked teams in Europe. This will give the staff and players something to build on in the coming months as we prepare to meet Italy in a Challenge match, and then Portugal in May in our first European Championship Qualification match.'
Scotland: Gemma Fay, Rhonda Jones, Leanne Ross ( Jayne Sommerville 84), Ifeoma Dieke, Amy McDonald, Joanne Love, Amanda Burns, Kirsty McBride
( Denise Brolly 81), Megan Sneddon ( Kim Little 57), Julie Fleeting, Pauline Hamill ( Suzanne Malone 66) Subs Not Used: Joanna Hutcheson, Suzanne Grant, Julie Ferguson
England: Siobhan Chamberlain ( Carly Telford 45), Stephanie Houghton, Rachel Unitt ( Corinne Yorston 78), Jill Scott, Laura Bassett, Mary Phillip, Alex Scott ( Lindsay Johnson 78), Fara Williams, Lianne Sanderson ( Amanda Barr 58), Kelly Smith (c) ( Katie Chapman 45), Sue Smith ( Jo Potter 58) Subs Not Used: Vicky Exley, Anita Asante, Michelle Hickmott, Kelly McDougall
