Grace Clinton scores in dream debut as Lionesses beat Austria 7-2 in a friendly

GRACE CLINTON showed astonishing grace in England’s attack with a dream debut in the Lionesses’ humiliation of Austria on Friday.

Sarina Wiegman’s faith in the Tottenham starlet was rewarded during the 7-2 draw, with Beth Mead scoring a brace.

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During the performance of the World Cup finalists last summer, preparations for the European Championship qualifiers got off to a flying start.

The team will begin competing for a place in next summer’s competition in April.

And the result of the friendly in southern Spain means England are yet to be defeated by their rivals, who suffered a tenth defeat to the Lionesses.

Although Austria got on the scoresheet twice at the Estadio Nuevo Mirador, the team struggled against the opponent’s press.

Before the match, Wiegman spoke about experimenting and her players’ sadness at missing out on the play-offs for a football spot at the Paris Olympics for Team GB.

It took her new look side, with Clinton making her first appearance, just three minutes to get off the ground.

It was an opening goal from the Arsenal playbook, with Gunners ace Alessia Russo and Mead coming together and Russo pouncing on the rebound of Mead shots for a tap-in.

Austria’s nightmare start showed no signs of easing as England punished errant passes from the back.

A quick counter saw them double their lead, with Clinton heading home in the 19^e minute just after he hit the post.

Against the run of play, Austria pulled a goal back, while England caught a cold from a corner.

At that moment an unmarked Virginia Kirchberger headed past an outstretched Hannah Hampton to make it 2-1 after half an hour.

But any hopes of a miraculous fightback were thwarted when Mead’s stunning curling shot flew past her Gunners goalkeeper teammate Manuela Zinsberger.

In the second half, Wiegman shuffled her deck with Jess Carter and Jess Park among the players participating in the battle.

And Russo grabbed her second after Sarah Zadrazil was caught in possession in the 61st minute before making way for Rachel Daly.

Carter added to the beating late with a quick finish past Zinsberger.

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But Kirchberger caught England cold again after a set-piece, with defender Esme Morgan lunging before Mead fired home England’s sixth goal with a minute of normal time remaining.

And Daly is seventh on the team after beating Zinsberger one-on-one in stoppage time.

A friendly match with Italy is scheduled for the Lionesses on Tuesday.