It was the Lionesses’ 20th and final match of the year after a 2-1 defeat by Germany just days before where a record crowd of 77,768 attended the historic occasion.
Match statistics via bbc
It was the Lionesses' last match of the year and second win from their six friendlies since this summer's Women's World Cup.
“We know the last three months haven't been good enough but we shouldn't take anything away from the last 12 months, in terms of where we've taken women's football.”
It was the Lionesses’ 20th and final match of the year after a 2-1 defeat by Germany just days before where a record crowd of 77,768 attended the historic occasion.
Lucy Bronze captained the team to win their 20th match of the year while Steph Houghton was out on rest due to clocking up minutes for her international and club team.
Neville made five changes from the Germany defeat at the weekend, with Carly Telford replacing Mary Earps in goal, Bethany England came in for the rested Ellen White, who has recently returned from injury and Millie Bright replaced Steph Houghton.
Alex Greenwood was out with an ankle injury which meant Demi Stokes had a chance as left back. While Lucy Staniforth was in for Jordan Nobbs who is still slowly building back up her international minutes after returning from injury.
With four goals in the opening 27 minutes, this wasn’t turning out to be the sure win everyone expected.
England were playing a team ranked 28th in the FIFA world ranking table, in comparison to their fifth place spot.
It was clear from early on Thereza Szewieczková would cause England problems. After hitting a header over the top, she redeemed herself on the quarter-hour mark , after being found by Katerina Svitkova’s tidy through ball by finishing at the back of the net.
Although England seemed unsettled the Lionesses were quick to react.
After already having a goal disallowed for offside, Chelsea forward Bethany England levelled on 17 minutes when she converted Nikita Parris’s cut back from the by-line.
Moments later Arsenals very own bend it like Beckham, Beth Mead, gave the Lionesses the lead they needed. She took a touch and then whipped a clinical shot into the far corner after a free kick from Staniforth inside the Czech Republic box.
The hosts were quick to level before the first half ended. Szewieczková once more driving from 20 yards out and belting it into the back of the net ended the first half 2-2.
Due to severe weather conditions the pace seemed to slow which was working in the home teams’ favour.
During the second half, the Lionesses should have had a penalty when Arsenal's Mead was bundled over in the area and a foul by Jill Scott in the build-up to Meads header saw another disallowed goal for England.
Bright attempted to score her first England goal, but clipped the bar with a close-range effort in the first half and she tried her luck after the break, too.
Picking up a loose ball 30 yards from goal, the centre back strolled forward and smashed a left-foot piledriver goalwards, but was unlucky as Barbora Votíková was equal to it.
Jordan Nobbs was booked with a yellow card in the 84th minute.
With just four minutes remaining, Leah Williamson secured the win for England with her first senior team goal. Her deflected strike from the edge of the box deceived Votíková, who could have done better in her attempt to parry the drive.
The Lionesses will be reunited early next year as they begin the defence of their SheBelieves Cup crown.
Phill Neville ends the year on a positive note: “The players have put an unbelievable effort in in the last 12 months.
“We know the last three months haven't been good enough but we shouldn't take anything away from the last 12 months, in terms of where we've taken women's football.”
“Now the hard work starts for after Christmas and the SheBelieves [Cup] and getting back to the level they and I know we can achieve.”
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