Pearce’s lions remain unbeaten

9:29am Friday 16th May 2008

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Wales Under-21 0 England Under-21 2

ENGLAND maintained their unbeaten Under-21 record this season, eventually showing class and quality to overcome a determined young Wales side.

In the first period Wales had attacked England constantly in this friendly at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground and could count themselves unfortunate to be two behind at the break to a Tom Huddlestone penalty and a deflected Theo Walcott drive.

But after the break England comfortably completed 10 unbeaten games this season under Stuart Pearce with their Premier League class and technique shining through.

John Toshack and Fabio Capello were interested observers from the directors' box.

Wales fielded as strong a side as they could muster, with six players who are regulars in the senior squad against an England side made up totally of Premier League players, including five of Capello's full squad named for the games against the US and Trinidad and Tobago.

Wales will wonder how they were two behind at the break.

England punished Wales for poor defending in the 19th minute. Middlesbrough's Adam Johnson was allowed to move in from the left, and across the face of the box with limited opposition until he was tripped by Neil Eardley. Huddlestone drilled home the spot-kick.

The next time England attacked, they scored again after 26 minutes. Theo Walcott cut in from the left and surged across the face of the box before turning to see a shot take a wicked deflection to leave Wayne Hennessey stranded.

Still Wales were moving forward.

Boro's Andrew Taylor sliced a Shaun MacDonald cross onto his own bar, with Hart beaten.

Sam Vokes saw a header and shot go wide, Lewin Nyatanga headed over and MacDonald drove wide.

Wales: Hennessey, Eardley (Ribeiro 62), Jacobson, Collison, Gunter, Nyatanga, Cotterill (Adams 77), David Edwards, Vokes (Church 63), Evans (Davies 77), MacDonald.

England: Hart (Lewis 46), Cranie, Taylor (O'Hara 57), Cattermole, Mancienne, Wheater (Dann 46), Walcott, Huddlestone, Agbonlahor (Blackstock 57), Leadbitter (Muamba 73), Adam Johnson (Shawcross 86).