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England recovered from an early New Zealand goal, a decisive victory thanks to a spirited second half comeback to earn

England 's men started last year' s World Cup with a 1-1 draw, and followed with a 0-0 hole. The U21 did the same last month. Readers, you know where this is moving. And on a Friday evening as well!

Thus England have to win. Not my words but the Fara Williams. The Pulitzer will have to wait.

New Zealand, all in white and attacking from left to right, get us going. England are in red, since you ask. New Zealand have never picked up a point in the World Cup, so England will do well to lose this. With Japan having beaten Mexico 4-0 earlier, it's vital that they don't.

7 min:

11 min: Kelly Smith will give it a go. It 's back on - it' s her left ankle, which has had a stroke, by the way.

12 min: Great harrying of Ellen White deprive it sees Percival, who was dawdling on the ball. She hared towards goal, but was ultimately stopped by the impressive Erceg, who stood up to the challenge well. They carried out wide and white, and then just a weak shot deflected wide for a corner on the right side. Yankey it lasted, but once again New Zealand managed comfortably enough.

13 min:

Somehow, despite the presence of three New Zealand defender around her, Kelly Smith manages to turn and wriggle away from the lot of them. She fired the ball into the six-yard box but again Erceg was on hand to clear. They defend well, New Zealand. By the by, Mel C is in the vicinity, supporting England. Joshua Reynolds has noticed. "I think I know what the problem with the English team is," he says. "They should have had Sporty Spice in a snazzy English blazer on the sidelines as the official mascot. How did the FA overlook this obviousness?"

England haven't really had a decent chance, and most of their shots have come from outside the area. This being a case in point. Kelly Smith, seemingly free from injury after that early knock, goes on a strong run through the middle, charging at a backtracking New Zealand defence. Again she seemed to lose her nerve and concentration at the crucial moment, dragging a weak shot well wide of the right post.

The half-time whistle blows and England have some work to do.

49 min: "Weren 't the women supposed to be better, rather than men?" Says Aidan Gibson. "I see only more long balls into the mixer, a shaky defense and a bad attack started. Oh, and an incompetent manager. You 're exactly the same as any England team." Fun, english, isn 't it?

50 min: Katie Hoyle makes her 457th Play of the game and still hasn 't booked.

52 min:

England are losing, Nadal's taking Murray to the cleaners ... David Haye must be getting nervous.

It must be stated that England goal was of the very highest quality. It was going to take something special to trouble New Zealand, and that's precisely what we got.

72 min:

And there's the final whistle. No scares for England in stoppage time, and they have a crucial victory. They made hard work of it, but never gave up and got their reward in the end.