Handley header seals England win

England 1-0 Denmark
England completed their UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ warm-up programme with a dramatic win against fellow finalists Denmark in Swindon thanks to substitute Jody Handley's 87th-minute header.

Frustration
With both sides missing key attacking players the coaches reshuffled their tactics up front. Sue Smith hit the post for England but it seemed there would be frustration for the crowd of more than 4,000 until Handley's header turned in a long shot from Karen Carney.

Late change
Having lost 2-0 to Iceland on Thursday with an experimental lineup, England were close to full strength tonight though Kelly Smith remained out with a knee injury and goalkeeper Rachel Brown suffered back pain in the warm-up, meaning a second appreance four years after her debut for Chicago-based Karen Bardsley. They took 18 minutes to create the first chance, Fara Williams shooting wide.

Veje bow
Denmark, 2-1 victors against Iceland three days ago despite a lengthy injury list including Cathrine Paaske Sørensen, gave a debut to 18-year-old midfielder Katrine Veje, who made a lively start, and another teenager, Nadia Nadim, headed over in the 21st minute. At the other end Sue Smith combined well with Williams but Heidi Johansen was equal to her shot. Katie Chapman headed wide from an England corner but the Denmark defence was generally well marshalled by captain Katrine Pedersen, winning her 150th cap.

Late drama
The second half was also tight but on 72 minutes England came agonisingly close to scoring. Alex Scott found Williams in the box and her shot was parried by Tine Cederkvist, off the bench in goal after recovering from injury. It seemed certain that Sue Smith would slide the ball in at the far post but instead she struck the woodwork and late on Williams shot wide in space before Handley's dramatic intervention. England name their squad for UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ on 4 August while ten days later Denmark welcome Scotland to Gladsaxe for their last friendly before kicking off the finals against hosts Finland on 23 August.

Powell praise
Hope Powell, the England manager, said: "We deserved something out the game. It would have been nice to score a few more goals. Rachel Brown tweaked her back and we didn't want to risk it but Karen Bardsley gave a commanding performance with her sheer presence. To play the full 90 minutes, it's given me a few problems in selection. We've had two games, bar two players everybody's played so it's given me a chance to look at everybody. With Kelly it is a case of managing her injury."

Debutant hailed
Denmark coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller told uefa.com: "I am satisfied with my team. They worked hard, but the passing was a little bit too soft and the English pushed us hard. But defensively we worked hard and that's what we have to do. I have to congratulate [Veje] on a great debut. She's still an U19 player but she did great, impressive. I told her she should not go on the pitch and be humble, she has to make her way. She is a good player and she will be fantastic one day."

England: Bardsley; A Scott, Johnson, Asante, Stoney; J Scott (Westwood, 90), Chapman; Carney, Williams, S Smith; Sanderson (Handley, 46).

Denmark: Johansen (Cederkvist, 46); Bjerg, M Jensen, K Pedersen, Hansen; Larsen, Nielsen (Marianne Pedersen, 90); Veje (Rasmussen, 71), Christiansen (Madsen, 87), Nadim; Pape (L Jensen, 46).