Rachel Daly and England overcome Corsie, Hanson and Scotland

Rachel Daly helped England overcome the challenge of Rachel Corsie, Kirsty Hanson and Scotland on Friday evening in Sunderland.

Our no.9 saw a header ruled out in the first half, but assisted Manchester City's Lauren Hemp with a sumptuous cross on the stroke of half-time.

Prior to that, Barcelona's Lucy Bronze found the back of the net while Kirsty Hanson converted before the referee's half-time whistle to half Scotland's deficit.

England held on, but there were a few hair-raising moments to contend with before the result was made safe.

A period of silence for the late Maddy Cusack, a former Aston Villa player, was impeccably observed ahead of kick-off.

Once the action got underway, Villa's involvement in proceedings was prominent.

First, Daly forced a save from Lee Gibson having been played through by Chelsea's Lauren James before Manchester United's Mary Earps saved well from Caroline Weir at the other end.

Daly thought she'd opened the scoring when she planted a powerful header beyond Gibson, but Chloe Kelly was adjudged to have interfered with the goalkeeper's line of vision.

England did manage to open the scoring five minutes before the break when Bronze ran behind Hanson to head home a Katie Zelem cross.

Moments later, the advantage was doubled when Daly's superb ball was thumped in by Hemp.

Hanson poked in her second international goal to give Scotland a lifeline heading into the second half.

Our no.20 endeavoured to draw her side back level and almost did when she struck the crossbar in the closing stages.

But the European champions held on for a first win in the UEFA Women's Nations League.

Both sides are back in action on Tuesday when England travel to Utrecht to take on the Netherlands (ko 7pm) while Scotland host Belgium in Glasgow (ko 7.45pm).