Trojans teenage hockey starlet Alex Danson scored with her very first touch of the ball in the Women's World Cup in Australia to help England beat Ireland 3-1 in their first group match.

Danson, 17, came on as a 15th minute substitute and immediately steered England into a 2-0 lead. "I was thrilled to bits to get on the pitch so early in the game.

"Scoring so quickly was beyond my wildest dreams," said Danson, who is the youngest member of England's 18-strong squad.

"We were already one-nil up through Clifton's Helen Grant when I initially came on. Getting that all important second gave us a crucial cushion and enabled us to relax at bit."

Ireland clawed a goal back but Leisa King's third, after 31 minutes, settled the contest.

"It was essential we got off to a winning start because this is naturally going to be a very difficult tournament, particularly against Australia and the Netherlands, who also won their opening games," she added.

Danson and her England team-mates avoided playing in the sweltering Perth heat as the Ireland match started at 9.35am local time.

"But we have a 4 o'clock game with South Africa today (Monday) and we could well be playing in 30 degree plus temperatures," she forecast.

Danson anticipates there will be plenty of support for England later this week.

"The World Cup co-incides with the Ashes Third Test at the WACA, so the Barmy Army will be pitching up in town in the next few days.

"After what's been happening in the cricket, they probably need something to cheer them up, so perhaps they'll come and give us some vocal support," she chuckled.