England Women 6-0 Russia Women

By Tony Leighton

Stoney had the crowd on her feet with her 40-yard shot

England stepped up their preparations for September's World Cup final with a dominant win over Russia.

Three goals in the first 25 minutes set England on their way as Alex Scott scored from 20 yards before Eni Aluko and Karen Carney hit from close range.

Arsenal's Kelly Smith slid home from Carney's cross to make it four just before half-time in Milton Keynes.

Rachel Yankey turned in the fifth after the break and then Casey Stoney looped in a 40-yard shot 10 minutes from time.

Interview: England coach Hope Powell

In the three previous meetings between the two nations England had failed to collect a victory.

But Hope Powell's team recorded their biggest win since a record 13-0 hammering of Hungary in October 2005.

England now face Scotland on Sunday and then go on to meet Holland the following Wednesday.

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England: Brown (Everton); A. Scott (Arsenal) (sub: Johnson (Everton) 57), Asante (Arsenal) (sub: Bassett (Birmingham City) 86), Westwood (Everton) (sub: Houghton (Sunderland) 73), Stoney (Charlton Athletic); Williams (Everton) (J. Scott (Everton) 73), Chapman (Arsenal) (sub: Exley (Doncaster Rovers Belles) 86); K. Smith (Arsenal), Carney (Arsenal), Aluko (Charlton Athletic) (sub: Handley (Everton) HT), Yankey (Arsenal).

Substitutes not used: Chamberlain (Bristol Academy), Unitt (Everton), Sanderson (Arsenal), S. Smith (Leeds United).

Russia: Pigaleva; Dyachkova, Tsybutovich, Sergaeva (Kozhnikova 69), Shmatchkova; Morozova, Barbashina (Mokshanova HT), Fomina (Skotnikova HT), Savchenkova, Petrova (Kremleva HT); Kurochkina (Tsidikova 57).

Substitutes not used: Vazhnova.

Referee: Ms S. Ihringova

Attendance: 5,421