The result might not have been quite what was expected but the evening was still one to remember as St Mary's hosted its first England women's international last night.

Outside the ground before kick-off there was an excited hustle with traders selling St George's cross flags and horns, enthusiastically and continuously blown by the younger members of the crowd throughout the game.

There was also an added sense of glamour and anticipation as for many this was their first taste of live women's football and they didn't quite know what to expect - England women have played in Southampton once before but it was in 1978 while the club have cut loose its own women's team following relegation to the Championship.

Not far short of 9,000 turned out to support, filling the Itchen stand and creating a smattering behind either goal.

It was mainly a family crowd, gearing up for the World Cup this summer with a women's World Cup qualifier.

And that support showcased all that is good about the women's team touring the grounds during their qualification process, allowing families otherwise excluded from top flight football due to the price a chance to enjoy a game.

The match itself didn't go quite as many thought.

England defeated Hungary 13-0 in the away leg of this fixture. Hungary are bottom of the qualification group having not scored a goal or earned a point so far, while England are top.

A few key players were being rested but it was assumed it was a matter of how many England would get.

As it turned out, while England were still by far and away the dominant team, they were probably relieved to get away with a 2-0 win and the vital three points.

In the first half Hungary were sitting so deep they were threatening to invade the Northam stand but as England failed to get a goal the more Hungary grew in confidence and the more they were prepared to pour forward on the counter attack.

The first good chance fell to England, midfielder Anita Asante's shot being turned on to the post by the keeper but they were given a warning on 39 minutes when Rachel Brown had to save from Aranka Paraoanu.

England did eventually make the breakthrough a minute later when Vicky Exley sidefooted home a free kick from the edge of the area, the Hungarian keeper having taken a step to her right that made it impossible to reach the shot to her left.

Karen Carney hit the post three minutes before half-time and again it seemed with Hungarian resistance broken England would romp away.

Again, though, it was not the case.

Debutante Lianne Sanderson hit the bar but not before Brown had made another good save, this time from Agnes Czuder, to keep England's lead intact.

It took England until second-half injury time to finally double their lead but when they did, through Alex Scott's powerful close range header, it ensured everybody left St Mary's happy after a good evening in the life of the stadium and another feather in the cap for the football city.

England: Rachel Brown, Lindsay Johnson (Casey Stoney 69), Faye White, Mary Phillipe, Rachel Unitt, Karen Carney (Alex Scott 57), Josanne Potter, Anita Asante, Vicky Exley, Sue Smith, Jody Handley (Lianne Sanderson 54). Att: 8,817.