England’s starting five (the same as yesterday) Daniel Barton, Joe Wheatley, Darrel Pierce, Mark Waddingham and James Taylor started the match determined to cement England a place in the finals by beating Macao.

Both teams played man to man defences within a restricted area but within 6:00 young Taylor took a quick free hit from the England goal area with a pass to Waddingham on the flank who passed the ball up the floor through the middle for the sprinting Taylor to skate on to it to slap the ball sweetly into the top corner of the goal at the other end! (1-0)

With Captain Barton again providing excellent security at the back through fantastic saves, England pressed through Pierce, Wheatley and Taylor to force the Macao keeper to keep his team in the match.

With 10:00 to go Pierce shot from a block/switch move that the keeper could only parry straight to Taylor, who was moving through the middle, who smashed the ball first time into the roof of the net for his 2nd goal (2-0).

England had further chances through out the first half and with 5 minutes to go Taylor won a direct free hit from which he calmly spooned the keeper to earn his international hat trick for England! (3-0)

At the half time break England had 1 yellow card (Wheatley),12 shots on target to Macau’s 7, 65% possession and the benefit of a strong keeper’s performance from Barton.

Coach Amaral used the break to focus his team and raise awareness of the Macau playmaker, Lisboa, whom he have D Pierce the job of marking him in the second half. He also briefed the team to be patient, assuring them that more goals would come if they were.

3:00 into the second half D Pierce scores his 1st goal from a close in shot which had the keeper well beaten to put England 4-0, and 7 minutes later brother S Pierce got in on the act by scoring a ‘wicked’ chip shot to make it 5-0.

With 8:00 to go Taylor received a yellow card for a tough tackle and for two crazy minutes Macau pressed an England defence that was all over the place until Coach Amaral intelligently called a time out to settle his team down.

With just one minute remaining of the match Jess I’Anson and Robbie Fone are on. Fone receives a great pass and scores his 1st Senior International goal to conclude a great England performance. Well done guys!!!

England now qualify for the finals at the top of their group with maximum points and have a 2 day rest before the finals.

More info:
Reporter: Kos Galtos