Football Association of Wales

Match Report - Wales 3 - 0 Slovenia

23 Aug 2009

Players

Substitutions

Goals

Cards

Officials

Referee: Wayne Tregonning (Merthyr Tydfil)

Assistant referee 1: Mark Dyson (Abertillery)

Assistant referee 2: Garwyn Davies (Morriston)

4th official: Wayne Stephens (Llanelli)

Other information

Attendance: 200

Report: Wales Women gained an important victory in their friendly fixture against Slovenia at Llanelli’s Stebonheath Park, in preparation for two World Cup qualifying matches against Belgium and the Czech Republic in four weeks time.
Gwennan Harries was on target with a goal in each half, but the glory fell to Pontardawe based Loren Dykes who netted her first senior international goal just before half-time.
“It was a very pleasing result with a good performance, and it’s great to get three goals and also net to concede”, said Wales manager Adrian Tucker.
“Gwennan Harries took her early goal well and it then settled everybody down, allowing the team to play with confidence, then after the interval Gwennan scored once more”.
Tucker added, “I’m very pleased for Loren Dykes, she netted the second goal prior to half-time, and although now playing her football at Bristol, it is very good to see local talent progressing through the Welsh youth system which she has been successful at”.
“She has some great attacking pace as a wide operating player and her contribution was excellent with a series of positive attacking options for us”.
“Neath born goalkeeper Rhian Nokes, despite not really being tested by the Slovenian strikeforce and was first class in her defensive organising instruction”.
There was an opportunity for Wales to make a stunning impact after only twenty five seconds only for Dykes to head narrowly wide of the far upright.
Following that early period of domination, the breakthrough finally arrived after thirteen minutes, Jessica Fishlock supplied a diagonal pass into the path of Harries for the striker to advance and fire under the diving Lucija Mori.
Seven minutes later former Llanelli Reds defender Lauren Townsend saw her 30yds shot saved by the Slovenian keeper as Wales increased the attacking tempo.
There was an additional golden chance to double the scoreline, but with only Mori to confront, Cheryl Foster steered wide of the post from twelve yards.
Slovenia threatened to draw level three minutes before the interval but Nokes did well to gather a rising shot delivered by Manja Benak.
With half-time rapidly approaching Wales scored their best goal from a fluent passing movement, former BP Llandarcy midfielder Michelle Green created the opening on halfway, Foster and Harries then played a vital attacking role which finally saw Dykes applying a clinical finish in the six yard area.




Wales added a third goal three minutes into the second half, with Harries despatching a twenty-yard free kick just inside the upright after she had been obstructed by the visiting keeper.
There was another chance for Wales to increase their lead during the 73rd minute, only for Ana Golob to make a headed goal-line clearance to deny Katie Daley.
After the match, Loren Dykes expressed her joy after scoring the second goal; “I’m absolutely thrilled to score my fist full international goal, especially with it coming in a match near home”.
“I did have an additional moment to score very early on but I was just off target, I then had the belief that I could make a vital contribution, which I did”.
Dykes added, “It was an excellent attacking threat which involved Michelle Green, Cheryl Foster and Gwennan Harries and fortunately, I wad ideally situated in the six yard area to fire into the net”.
“This will now give me along with the team added confidence with this being the last match before the first World Cup qualifier against Belgium in Haverfordwest next month”

Robert Clement

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