England eased past Austria 3-0 at Loftus Road to keep up their 100 per cent record in the World Cup qualifiers.
Goals from Lianne Sanderson, Eniola Aluko and debutant Ellen White saw the hosts home as the visitors failed to seriously test England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.
Hope Powell’s side showed a lot of attacking intent from the kick off and were rewarded when Sanderson netted early on.
The impressive Aluko picked up a ball from Alex Scott and jinked past Austria defender Kathrin Entner before teeing up Sanderson who attacked the cross to head over keeper Jasmin Pfeiler.
Before the goal, England had a credible shout for a penalty turned down when Carina Wenninger felled Scott.
The closest Austria came was on the half hour mark when Bardsley had to be alert to tip over a long range drive from Entner.
In the second half, Daniella Tasch crashed the crossbar and a Nadine Prohaska was headed behind by Everton’s Rachel Unitt but otherwise England remained untroubled.
Having got into an early lead, England took their time adding the second but had plenty of chances to do so in the second period.
Pfeiler thwarted Scott and Katie Chapman well before stretching to palm away a curling effort from Aluko.
Scott somehow then contrived to put the ball wide from five yards out but with 20 minutes remaining England were further ahead.
A fantastic lofted pass from Sanderson fell perfectly into the path of Aluko who deftly flicked the ball past Pfeifer and into the corner of the net.
England missed more chances, Aluko, Rachel Yankey and Fara Williams failing to out the ball in the back of the net before substitute Sue Smith fired over from point blank range.
Smith’s Leeds Carnegie team mate Ellen White grabbed her first ever international goal in stoppage time to put the game to bed as she ‘dinked’ it over the onrushing Pfeifer.
National coach Powell said: “The most important thing were the points, we are still in it which is fantastic.
“We sorted a few things out at half time, the game opened up and we created a lot of chances and would have liked to have scored a few more goals,” she added.
White was delighted with how her debut went: “It was amazing, first my debut and then the goal it is pretty overwhelming.”
Of her first ever international goal, she recalled: “Lianne played a brilliant ball down the side and I wasn’t really thinking.
“The goalie was coming out so I couldn’t really take it round her so I just thought I would dink it but it took about half an hour to go in!” she added.
England take on Spain, the other side in their group who have not dropped points, on Thursday April 1 at Millwall’s New Den and should welcome back Kelly Smith for what is expected to be a sterner test.
