AT long last and after a summer of doom and gloom, a comprehensive and fully deserved England victory.

Much has been said about the lack of skill and technique in the English game since the senior side's painful Euro 2000 demise.

But last night at York's Bootham Crescent there was both in abundance, with the added bonus of goals.

England had to work hard for their 3-0 victory, but the country's cream of teenage talent proved we can look to the future with confidence rather than just hope.

Thailand did not come to roll over, three clattering tackles in the opening 15 minutes from Weerayut Jitkuntod proved that.

But they rarely threatened the England penalty area, never mind the England goal.

They could pass the ball sideways fine, they could even pass the ball backwards. But would they knock it forward? Rarely.

England were likewise neat and tidy but with Millwall's pacey winger, Goma Lambu, possessed a more purposeful threat.

Blackburn Rovers striker Andrew Bell led the line superbly, dropping deep and pulling wide adding to an armoury of deft touches, while at the opposite end of the field Manchester United's Kris Taylor sprayed 50-yard pinpoint passes with the minimum of effort.

However, despite wave after wave of England forays and fine one touch passing and moving, Thailand 'keeper Chananut Kaewjan was looking impassable until the goal that England's superiority so much deserved finally came on 53 minutes.

Liverpool's impressive full-back John Welsh carried the ball out from the back and delivered a delightful reverse pass to play in the speedy Lambu.

The winger's first touch let him down but his electric pace helped him retrieve the ball before it ran out for a goal kick.

His cut back dissected the Thailand defence and 'keeper while also evading the desperate lunge of Bell.

However, the ball fell inch perfect into the path of second-half substitute Craig Westcarr and the Nottingham Forest junior needed no second invitation to slam home into an empty net.

Westcarr and Lambu continued to pose England's greatest threat with their pace and the reluctance of the Thai full-backs to get tight simply enhanced their cause.

Westcarr was hauled down on the by-line and England's other second-half substitute, Marcel McKie, floated in a delightful free-kick that Ciaran Donnelly met with the deftest of flicks to send the ball looping over 'keeper Kaewjan.

The Blackburn Rovers youngster will remember Bootham Crescent with fondness after scoring for England Under-15s in their 2-1 victory over Northern Ireland in October last year.

Less than ten minutes later, England were 3-0 up as Bell surged forward into the Thai penalty area only to be upended by a reckless tackle from Tada Keelalay.

Skipper Steve Schumacher stepped up to coolly roll the ball home and complete a productive night's work for the England teenagers.

England: Lee Camp, John Welsh, Alan Moogan (Marcel McKie 41mins), Steven Schumacher, Glen Johnson, Kris Taylor, Goma Lambu, Steven Beck (Jamie Cade 72mins), Andrew Bell, Ciaran Donnelly, David Poole (Craig Westcarr 41mins)

Subs, not used: Jamie Cade, Lenny Pidgeley, Cherno Samba, David Murphy, Neil Arndale

Booked: None

Sent off: None

Goals: Westcarr 53mins, Donnelly 65mins, Schumacher 70mins (pen)

Thailand: Chananut Kaewjan, Tada Keelalay, Pariwet Sarakit, Chakrit Buathong, Natthaphong Samana, Piyachat Chinchai, Weerayutt Jitkuntod (Tanat Wongsupphalak 30mins), Withawat Seechuen, Visist Chanvichanon, Atthipol Poosap, Satid Mukkratok

Subs, not used: Sarawut Janthapan, Thongchai Chairiboon, Samattchai Sirirac, Chalermchol Hlincharern, Nitisin Pasukmuang, Damrongsak Boonmuang.

Booked: Jitkuntod, 25mins (foul), Wongsupphalak 66mins (foul)

Sent off: None

Goals: None

Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield)

Attendance: 1,346

PICTURE: DRAG BACK: Blackburn striker Andrew Bell attempts to beat Thailand's Pariwet Sarakit, with Manchester United's David Poole (No 11) looking on