Janine Beckie’s strike for Canada ends Wiegman’s perfect England record

The calm between Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice allowed England to open their challenge for the inaugural Arnold Clark Cup but saw them concede their first goal in seven games under Sarina Wiegman’s management.

Yet if a draw secured as much by Kadeisha Buchanan’s excellence at the heart of Canada’s defence as Janine Beckie’s sumptuous equaliser slightly disappointed the 8,769 who braved the bitter evening chill, Lauren Hemp’s immense attacking promised offered cause for cautious optimism ahead of this summer’s European Championship.

It was England’s first game since November’s astonishing 20-0 win against Latvia but Canada’s reigning Olympic gold medallists represented a very different proposition.

Moreover Bev Priestman arrived equipped with invaluable inside knowledge about Sarina Wiegman’s players and their foibles. Canada’s manager knows many of the Lionesses very well after serving as number two to Phil Neville and playing a key role in the team’s run to the 2019 World Cup semi-finals in France.

Indeed the Consett-born coach had been under the distinct impression she would succeed Neville and has admitted to feeling more than a little disappointed when she was overlooked for the England job.

After leading the Netherlands to Euro 2017 glory Wiegman perhaps seemed the safer option but Priestman swiftly proved her worth by dusting herself down, moving to Vancouver and choreographing that Olympic triumph in Japan.

Such recent history dictated that this was a match both women seemed particularly keen to win and, at kick-off, England’s record of six straight wins under Wiegman, with 53 goals scored and none conceded, appeared under severe threat.

It was an impression confirmed as Canada’s first corner resulted in