North Macedonia 0-10 England: Player ratings as Beth Mead hits four in Lionesses win
By Ali Rampling
Beth Mead scored four goals as England maintained their 100% record in World Cup qualifying with a comprehensive 10-0 victory over North Macedonia.
Ella Toone also grabbed a hat-trick as the Lionesses ran riot at the Toshe Proeski Arena against a North Macedonia side ranked 132nd in the world.
Mead's quick brace saw the Lionesses race into a 2-0 lead inside 12 minutes. Toone added a superbly taken third from long range, before turning provider for Ellen White to head home her 50th England goal.
Georgia Stanway grabbed a fifth on the stroke of half time following a flowing team move, with Hemp and Toone in the thick of the action.
The second half was less than two minutes old when Mead completed her hat-trick from close range, Hemp again the provider. The Arsenal forward added a fourth six minutes later.
Hemp continued to cause chaos, picking out Stanway for an expertly taken eighth. Toone also doubled her tally for the evening as she lashed home a half volley, before completing her hat-trick with a confident finish following Nikita Parris' mazy run as England reached double figures.
England player ratings
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Hannah Hampton (GK) - 6/10 - Quick out of her box and tidy on the ball when called into action - but unsurprisingly she wasn't exactly rushed off her feet.
Lucy Bronze (RB) - 7/10 - Bombed up and down and was in the thick of the action, winning the ball back well with her athleticism.
Jess Carter (CB) - 7/10 - Brought the ball out from the back extremely confidently. Rarely tested defensively.
Millie Bright (CB) - 7/10 - A rare goalless game for the Arnold Clark Cup's inaugural golden boot winner. Didn't have a great deal to do defensively, calm and composed on the ball.
Demi Stokes (LB) - 8/10 - Tore forward and overlapped at every opportunity, combing well with Manchester City teammate Hemp down the left.
2. Midfielders
Keira Walsh (CM) - 7/10 - Doesn't need a defensive midfield partner in matches like this. Ice cool and ruthlessly efficient in possession.
Georgia Stanway (CM) - 8/10 - Timed her run perfectly to stroke home England's fifth from just inside the area, and spun expertly to fire in her side's eighth. Typically energetic, tenacious performance, awesome on the ball.
Ella Toone (CM) - 8/10 - Three really well taken goals for Toone; a terrific low, long range drive into the bottom corner, a half volley and a first time effort from the edge of the area. Also set up White for England's fourth with a bending delivery.
3. Forwards
Beth Mead (RW) - 9/10 - Just the four goals for Mead. Timed her arrival into the box to perfection with three instinctive, close range finishes, plus a cheeky, dinked effort.
Ellen White (ST) - 7/10 - Looked like it might not be her night after missing a couple of early half chances, before netting her 50th England goal with a composed header on the stroke of half time.
Lauren Hemp (LW) - 9/10 - Provided the perfect delivery for Mead for England's opener, picked out Stanway for her side's fifth and chipped in with another couple of assists in the second half. Can run riot against the most world class of backlines, so was unsurprisingly a constant threat.
4. Substitutes
Nikita Parris - 7/10
Jill Scott - 7/10
Katie Zelem - 6/10
Alessia Russo - 6/10
Rachel Daly - 6/10
