By Tony Leighton

Powell's side endured a frustrating day at Gillingham

England coach Hope Powell hit out at the scheduling of their Women's Euro 2009 qualifying game against Northern Ireland on Sunday.

Powell was unhappy at having to play the first of the Euro qualifiers before September's World Cup finals in China.

"I didn't want a Euro qualifier at this time, but it's out of the way now and everything from this point will be geared towards China," she said.

The match was goalless for 53 minutes before Powell's side won 4-0.

Fatigue was certainly a factor - we did really well in the first half but the game ran away from us after the first goal went in Northern Ireland manager Alfie Wylie

The coach wasn't too pleased at her players' failure to make the breakthrough until the second half against a team placed 66 places below themselves at 78th in the world rankings.

"At least we've got three points towards qualification for the 2009 Euros, although Northern Ireland made it difficult for us and credit to them," she added.

"In games like that though, we tend to get anxious if we don't score an early goal and the players got very frustrated.

"We had to iron a few things out at half-time and I felt we were far more composed in the second half, although we did have a bit of luck as well."

But after Kelly Smith had opened the scoring, an own goal by Una Harkin and strikes from Katie Chapman and Lianne Sanderson wrapped up victory.

Northern Ireland manager Alfie Wylie, who also coaches Linfield in the men's Irish League, said: "The England girls play at a faster pace than the men in the Irish League!

"Fatigue was certainly a factor - we did really well in the first half but the game ran away from us after the first goal went in."