SOUTHEND United defender Ollie Kensdale helped England C record a 2-0 win against Nepal at Aldershot Town’s EBB Stadium this afternoon.
Kensdale played the full 90 minutes on his international debut.
But it was Barnet duo Nicke Kabamba and Callum Stead who stung their opponents with two early efforts to secure victory.
England started brightly and opened the scoring when a left wing cross from Ollie Harfield picked out Barnet hot-shot Kabamba who scored with a neatly taken near post header which he directed into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Paul Fairclough’s side remained on top and doubled their lead in the 13th minute when Stead netted with a well-taken left-footed volley after Harfield’s right wing corner had only been partially cleared.
Moments later, Toby Edser saw a well-struck shot tipped over the crossbar by Kiran Kumar Limbu who then easily collected a looping header from Kensdale as the Shrimpers centre-back attempted to work his way onto the score-sheet.
Attacks from the Nepal were few and far between in the first half but each move forward was greeted by large cheers from their enthusiastic supporters.
However, one slight opportunity of a counter-attack was ended by Kensdale pulling down Laken Limbu with a challenge which saw him yellow carded by referee Thomas Owen.
After the break, Danny Collinge miscued a close range volley before Saubhagya Rai got back to clear the ball off the line and stop Kabamba applying a finishing touch.
Nepal, who are ranked 178 in the world, soon replied with their first shot on target which saw Sanjeeb Bista having a left footed effort pushed to safety by England C goalkeeper Elliot Justham.
The Dagenham shot-stopper replaced Nathan Ashmore at the break before England made four further changes on the hour mark.
Kensdale stayed on and the Three ions soon came close to making it 3-0 with Tyler Frost volleying wide of the left post just moments after entering the action.
However, Nepal soon came within a whisker of getting back into the game when Sanjeeb Bista headed a right wing cross against the top of the crossbar.
Bista then also fired wide of the right post from 12 yards before England saw out the closing stages to triumph in front of a crowd of 5, 560.
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