West Ham United U21 Lewis Orford featured as a second-half substitute as England MU18s brushed aside Northern Ireland at St. George's Park on Wednesday evening, with a 4-2 win.
Orford was introduced in the 55th minute to win his seventh cap at this level, and saw his corner, as we have become accustomed to in east London this season, cause havoc in the penalty box, before a fourth England goal found its way into the net.
Fellow Academy of Football player Josh Briggs, who signed his first professional contract at West Ham United in March, started for Northern Ireland, as England took the lead through Kadan Young, and then Romelle Donovan and Ethan Wheatley added further first-half strikes before the break.
Goals from Northern Ireland’s Dylan Stitt and Braiden Graham threatened to swing the game away from England, although Orford’s involvement late on helped ensure a winning start to the May international break for Tom Curtis’ men.
England will be back in action when they host Morocco on Sunday 26 May (1pm BST).
Victory for our U18 #YoungLions at St. George's Park in their penultimate game of the season 🙌
— England (@England) May 23, 2024
