ENGLAND Women ended a year-long goal famine with a sensational 21-second winner against Australia at Turf Moor.

But the nation had Burnley-born keeper Rachel Brown to thank for earning Hope Powell's side their first win in six games.

Brown, who played all 90 minutes in front of her home town crowd, denied Kelly Golebiowski a sure-fire equaliser after the Aussie striker seemed certain to score an undeserved equaliser.

And the 23-year-old stopper later basked in the glow of keeping a clean sheet to press her claims for the country's number one jersey.

Current number two Brown said: "It was definitely special being here and playing on the Turf after being a fan all my life and sitting in the stands. Finally I got the glory of running out there and playing for my country and it's been an amazing day.

"I've had quite an exciting week leading up to the game and naturally I was nervous, but thankfully that was one of my quieter games and in the end I was getting a bit cold out there!"

England, who had endured a miserable 12-months without a single goal, made the perfect start and broke their six-game hoodoo straight from the kick off.

The impressive Kelly Smith dissected a square Australian back line with a dream ball that Rachel Yankey converted with aplomb for England's first goal in 450 minutes of barren football.

Buoyed by the breakthrough, Smith soon forced keeper Cassandra Kell into another fine save as the hosts enjoyed a spell of hugely enjoyable free-flowing football that, at times, was a joy to watch.

In stark contrast Brown was a virtual spectator in the England goal, but she survived an early scare when Rhian Davies' speculative deep cross dipped viciously and smacked the crossbar.

And the local hero lived up to her pre-match billing when, following a rare mistake in the home defence, she denied Golebiowski in a one-on-one situation.

England recovered well from that wobble and should have doubled their advantage six minutes after the break. Yankey's cross was flicked on by sub Amanda Barr and Vicky Exley blazed over from 12 yards.

Rachel McArthur then headed wide from inside the six-yard box before forcing another fine save from Kell with a rising goalbound drive.

And inevitably, a pointless second half string of Eriksson-esque substitutions wrecked any further pressure and England effortlessly closed the friendly clash out for a morale-boosting win to send patriotic fans home happy.

Brown added: "The supporters were absolutely terrific. They couldn't have been behind us any more and hopefully now we'll have more games up this way in future!"

ENGLAND: Brown, Champ, Unitt, Chapman, Stoney, Phillip, Moore (Barr 46), Exley (McArthur 60), Walker (McDougall 71) Smith (Handley 46), Yankey (Smith 67).

AUSTRALIA: Kell, Foster (Grant 50), Wainwright, Salisbury, Davies, Golebiowski (Mann 72), Peters, Garriock, Reuter, Karp (Duus 61), Small (Rockall 72).

ENGLAND...1

AUSTRALIA...0

At Turf Moor Att: 4,349