England savour their winning feeling

Victory was a great reward for Powell and all involved

BBC Sport Online's Tony Leighton reflects on a memorable night for English women's football.

English women's football is riding high following the international team's qualification for the European Championship finals in 2001 after a 4-1 aggregate play-off victory over Ukraine

With the England under-18s through to the final qualifying stages of their European Championships age group and the formation of a professional league only three years away, the country's fastest growing sport is set for lift off at club and international level.

England coach Hope Powell, who was captain of the side which lost to Spain at the play-off stage of the 1997 European Championships, was understandably delighted.

To get to the last eight is a tremendous achievement and we are going to do our level best when we get there

  Hope Powell

Goals from Sue Smith, and substitute Rachel Yankey, gave Powell's team a 2-0 second leg victory in front of a record attendance for a woman's international in England.

Deserved reward

A crowd of 7,102 was at Leyton Orient's Brisbane Road to see England reach the eight nation European finals, which will almost certainly be hosted by reigning champions Germany.

Powell said: "This is a great achievement by the team and a magnificent boost for women's football in this country.

"We have worked extremely hard through the qualifying campaign and reaching the final is a great reward for everyone involved."

Captain Mo Marley, who played alongside Powell in the play-off defeat at the hands of Spain four years ago, was not only "ecstatic" to have reached the finals, but also determined to push England towards the top level of the international game.

Repeat performance

Mo Marley is determined to drive England forward

The Everton central defender said: "This second game was a bit like the game against Spain when we were totally on top but just could not score the goals we needed.

"We had so much possession against Ukraine but at 0-0 you are always wary and I worried at one point that it might end up like the Spain game.

"But we stuck to our game plan, kept our discipline, and in the last half hour got the goals we deserved.

"I'm ecstatic. I can't believe we've done it, but now we've got to kick on from here. There's no point in just playing for England - you've got to be a winner."

Tournament build-up

Coach Powell will now begin preparations for the finals in which England will come up against the best in Europe - and in Norway and Germany - two of the top women's teams in the world.

It will be a real test as to how far the national team has come under Powell, who has no illusion about the task facing her side next summer.

England will not be expected to progress beyond the group stage and reach the semi-finals, let alone win the tournament.

Sue Smith's strike set England on their way in the second leg

But Powell said: "We will prepare the best way we can and set ourselves realistic targets.

"Just to get to the last eight is a tremendous achievement. We've done that and we are going to do our level best when we get there."

England were the last team to qualify for the Championship finals, which will be played next June and July, after Italy beat Portugal in their play-off tie.

Sweden and Denmark also won play-offs to reach the finals, while France and Russia went through as group winners along with Norway and Germany.