Jodie Taylor and Fran Kirby on target as England beat China

First half goals from Jodie Taylor and Fran Kirby ensured England recorded a 2-1 win over China in their last match on home soil before the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

England made history when they took to the field at the Academy Stadium - home to Manchester City Women - as they took part in the first home international to be played at a dedicated women’s stadium in England.

And they got off to the perfect start when Portland Thorns striker Taylor, who scored a hat-trick during last month’s Cyprus Cup, gave England the lead after just 59 seconds.

Taylor’s strike partner Kirby made a surging run down the left flank before flicking the ball with the outside of her right boot into the path of Taylor to slot home past China goalkeeper Zhang Yue.

The Reading striker went from provider to goalscorer in the 10th minute when she chested down a cross from Jordan Nobbs before rifling home from 10 yards to score her second goal in an England shirt.

England threatened to run riot when Birmingham midfielder Jo Potter hit the post moments later but they were pegged back in the 16th minute when Shanshan Wang scored a point-blank header from a corner.

Kirby almost created a third goal in the second half but her cutback after a run down the left just eluded her team-mates.

Substitute Toni Duggan went close with a header before Wang missed a gilt-edged opportunity to draw China level late on.

But there was time for a stoppage time appearance for Ellen White, who made a return to England duty after almost a year out with a cruciate knee injury to earn her 50th cap.

Meanwhile, a Jane Ross second-half-strike saw Scotland come from behind to claim a creditable draw against FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers Australia at Falkirk Stadium.

Scotland head coach Anna Signeul sent her side out in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ross occupying the lone striker’s role.

And the home side almost got off to the perfect start when they were awarded a penalty after a hand-ball was given in the box against Australia. Seattle Reign striker Kim Little stepped up to take the spot-kick but saw her shot saved by Australian keeper Brianna Davey.

They were left to rue that miss minutes later when a goalmouth scramble ensued in the Scotland box following a corner and Laura Alleway prodded the ball home to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

But Scotland came out for the second half reinvigorated and levelled when Ross latched on to a through ball from Bayern Munich’s Lisa Evans and slotted home her 36th goal in a Scotland shirt.

Little thought she had netted the winner minutes before the end when she pounced on a rebound but was ruled offside as the game finished all square.