Anouk Denton came off the bench in the closing stages of England U23s' 1-1 draw with Norway U23s in their inaugural European League fixture.
Emma Coates was taking charge of her first fixture since stepping up to coach the Young Lionesses and in an evenly matched contest in Bryne, Norway, they could not find the breakthrough in the first half.
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Poppy Pattinson hit the crossbar with a free-kick on 70 minutes, just before the away side made the breakthrough.
On 76 minutes, Everton’s Aggie Beever-Jones was picked out by a fine cross from Freya Gregory to power a header into the top corner.
However, Norway would hit back just three minutes later as former West Ham United winger Thea Kyvåg slotted the ball beyond Thomas and into the bottom corner.
Both teams went for the win in the final ten minutes, with Hammers full-back Denton firing a shot towards the top corner only to see it clawed away by the Norwegian 'keeper Sunniva Skoglund.
The home side forced a corner late on, but England cleared away to pick up a point in a hard-fought opening fixture.
Mel Filis and Emma Harries were both unused substitutes, but be hoping to get minutes in the U23s next fixture on Monday, when they head back to England to face Belgium U23s at New Meadow.
After our internationals return, watch West Ham United women's team in their first Barclays Women's Super League match of the season! Purchase your ticket by clicking on the graphic below!
