England edge Montenegro thanks to Kane

Harry Kane's 51st-minute goal ensured England began their UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite round Group 2 campaign with victory against Montenegro.

England, starting with four members of the 2010 European Under-17 Championship-winning squad, had the better of play throughout but took until the second half before Kane made the pressure tell in a game where he could have had a hat-trick. On Thursday Noel Blake's side next meet hosts Switzerland, who lost 2-1 to Montenegro's next opponents Spain.

Marko Bakić had the first chance for Montenegro when he sent his tenth-minute free-kick over but England were largely in control, and George Thorne volleyed James Hurst's cross wide while Josh McEacheran shot straight at Damir Ljuljanović from outside the area. Not long after Ljuljanović made a reflect save from a Kane header and Risto Radunović then cleared a Thorne effort off the line.

The deadlock was broken when Thomas Ince threaded the ball through to Kane, who slid his shot past Ljuljanović. Conor Coady sent Kane through but Ljuljanovic this time denied the England striker with a fine save, and he also stopped an Ince effort. Late on Jack Robinson raced into the penalty area only to drag his shot wide.

Blake said: "Obviously we wanted to get on the scoresheet and I was disappointed that we did not score more goals. We could have been two or three goals up at the end of the first half, but their keeper also made some good saves, but this is international football and we had a lot of young lads out there and this was like, 'Welcome to international football,' for them."