Second-half strikes from captain Hollie Pearne-Webb, Ellie Rayer and Grace Balsdon saw David Ralph’s side to a convincing win at University of North Carolina.

The visitors were frustrated by an energetic and youthful USA in the first half but kept their composure to record a Pro League victory at the third attempt.

Their campaign began with back-to-back 5-2 defeats to Argentina in Buenos Aires in February.

Ralph’s side started brightly with Ellie Rayer having an early sniff of a close-range chance.

England had the first effort on goal when the ball sat up perfectly in the circle for Alexandra Malzer who fired narrowly wide of the left-hand upright.

USA enjoyed a spell of pressure and three successive penalty corners, the first two bravely blocked by Izzy Petter and the threat of the third expertly dealt with by Grace Balsdon.

England wrested back the initiative led by the relentless Martha Taylor, who won the ball on the right and drove deep into enemy territory to earn two corners.

Skipper Hollie Pearne-Webb drew a save from Kelsey Bing on the re-award and the loose ball didn’t quite break for Taylor close at hand.

The second quarter was a cagey affair but as both sides wilted in the intense heat, the game sparked into life in the dying moments of the first half.

England countered quickly on USA and Darcy Bourne was played into the circle down the left with Rayer narrowly unable to connect with her fierce reverse stick ball across goal.

Malzer was in the thick of the action at the start of the third quarter, driving into the circle and subsequently green carded for a full-blooded challenge four minutes after half-time.

USA went close through Danielle Grega and nearly profited from their extra player advantage when captain Amanda Magadan nearly saw her shot from a tight angle squirt in at the far post.

England were rewarded for riding out that spell of pressure when Pearne-Webb slapped home from a short corner on 36 minutes.

Only goalkeeper Kelsey Bing stood between the visitors and a bigger lead as she denied Taylor with a diving save.

She then foiled Sophie Hamilton from close range and cleared another fierce short corner slap from Pearne-Webb.

The hosts passed up a golden opportunity to respond when Paityn Wirth missed a half open goal with the final touch of a swift counter attack when it looked simpler to score.

They were soon punished as Bourne broke into a space and squared for Rayer who shot first-time into the roof of the net to make it two.

Pearne-Webb had to be alert to danger at the other end as she denied Hope Rose in a dangerous position with an expertly-timed poke tackle.

England earned a penalty corner when the ball ballooned off a defender’s stick and onto the bar, with Balsdon unable to test Bing once again.

But Balsdon wouldn’t be denied and minutes later ripped a superb drag-flick high into the net, putting the icing on the cake of an impressive performance, although Erin Matson got a late consolation for USA.

Goalscorer Ellie Rayer said: “We had ups and downs in the game but just rode the wave. We came through, stuck together and delivered on our basics.

“It’s a good start and plenty to build on. We need to get ready to go again tomorrow.”

England and USA lock horns again tomorrow night, push back 7pm.

Rayer added: “We just need to tidy things up. We know the Americans are a really fast, physical team, and we want to play at our own tempo and intensity.

“It can get frantic out there, so we need to control the play and stick to the basics, that will put us in a good place for tomorrow.”

USA 1

Matson (60′ FG)

England 3

Pearne-Webb (36′ PC), Rayer (42′ FG), Balsdon (55′ PC)

Starting XI: Heesh (GK), Burge, Hunt, Rayer, Pearne-Webb (C), Crackles, Neal, S Hamilton, Taylor, Balsdon, Malzer

Subs (used): Bourne, Petter, O Hamilton, Walker, Lock, MacKenzie

Sub (unused): Pritchard (GK)

With thanks to England Hockey

The junior team won a first-ever medal in the competition just last week, and their captain Millie Giglio has been selected, along with Lorna Mackenzie and Vicki McCabe. Between them, the trio scored seven of their team’s nine goals on the way to medal success.

Also included are Pippa Lock and Lily Walker, who will also be looking to make their senior international debuts. There is also a very welcome return for Tess Howard, who is not being considered to play but will continue her rehabilitation from injury on the trip.

These matches take on extra significance for the squad, with a very busy year of hockey ahead. There is one month to go until England’s first home games of the year at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, and only 50 days until the huge weekend of hockey against the Netherlands at the Twickenham Stoop. With the Women’s World Cup and Commonwealth Games also this summer, every player involved will be keen to showcase their talents in this weekend’s matches.

David Ralph’s team play two matches at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and action from both games will be on BT Sport:

Sat 23 Apr, 7pm UK time
USA v England

Sun 24 Apr, 7pm UK time
USA v England

Full squad:
Grace Balsdon – Hampstead & Westminster
Darcy Bourne – Surbiton
Esme Burge – Hampstead & Westminster
Fiona Crackles – Wimbledon
Millie Giglio – University of Birmingham
Olivia Hamilton – Loughborough Students
Sophie Hamilton – Surbiton
Sabbie Heesh (GK) – Surbiton
Holly Hunt – Hampstead & Westminster
Alex Malzer – East Grinstead
Lizzie Neal – Canterbury
Pippa Lock – University of Birmingham
Lorna Mackenzie – Loughborough University
Vicki McCabe – Team Bath Buccaneers
Hollie Pearne-Webb (C) – Wimbledon
Izzy Petter – Loughborough Students
Miriam Pritchard – Hampstead & Westminster
Ellie Rayer – East Grinstead
Martha Taylor – University of Exeter
Lily Walker – University of Birmingham
Laura Unsworth – East Grinstead

Travelling for rehab:
Tess Howard – East Grinstead

FIH Hockey Pro League fixtures:

• Sat 23 May – USA v England (W), 7pm, Chapel Hill, NC
  Sun 24 May – USA v England (W), 7pm, Chapel Hill, NC
• Wed 4 May – Germany v England (M+W), SparkassenPark, Moenchengladbach
  Thu 5 May – Germany v England (M+W), SparkassenPark, Moenchengladbach
• Sat 21 May – England v France (M) 1pm, England v China (W) 3:30pm, Lee Valley HTC
  Sun 22 May – England v France (M) 12pm, England v China (W) 2:30pm, Lee Valley HTC
• Sat 28 May – England v South Africa (M) 12pm, England v Spain (W) 2:30pm, Lee Valley HTC
  Sun 29 May – England v South Africa (M) 12pm, England v Spain (W) 2:30pm, Lee Valley HTC
• Sat 4 Jun – England v Netherlands (W&M), 2pm & 4:30pm, Twickenham Stoop
  Sun 5 Jun – England v Netherlands (W&M), 1pm & 3:30pm, Twickenham Stoop
• Sat 18 Jun – England v Belgium (W&M), 2pm & 4:30pm, Lee Valley HTC
  Sun 19 Jun – England v Belgium (W&M), 1pm & 3:30pm, Lee Valley HTC

Home game tickets are on sale now, including the weekend against the Dutch at the Twickenham Stoop on 4-5 June which is less 50 days away. Click here for the ticketing website

With thanks to England Hockey