First-half goals from Jess Clarke and Rachel Yankey earned England a 2-1 victory over United States in a women's international at Leyton Orient's Matchroom Stadium.

Megan Rapinoe halved the deficit six minutes before the interval but the visitors could not find an equaliser after the break as England secured a confidence-boosting victory ahead of this summer's World Cup.

Clarke went close with a flicked header before she drilled home an eighth-minute opener for England.

Yankey then doubled the lead in the 26th minute when she collected Kelly Smith's pass on the left of the box before firing a a left-footed shot across goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart and into the top corner.

Smith herself sent a 25-yard shot just over the bar, before Rapinoe pulled one back with a low drive in the 39th minute, and there were no further goals after the interval as England posted only their second ever success against the USA.