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Wales thrash Estonia to keep hold of second place

Photo by Colin Ewart

WALES women thrashed Estonia 4-0 on Tuesday night (Oct 26) as they maintained their excellent start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

The team were playing in front of a record crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium and there was a rousing rendition of the national anthem before the game began.

After Kayleigh Green was sent off in Slovenia, Wales’ all-time top scorer Helen Ward was drafted in to the starting line-up.

Wales enjoyed plenty of possession in the early stages but didn’t create a clear cut chance until the eighth minute as some good play set Sophie Ingle free but when her shot was parried, Estonia reacted quickest to get the ball away from Natasha Harding who was waiting to pounce.

There was another chance for Harding but a ball to the back post was just too far in front of her as she was unable to connect.

Midway through the first half Ward had a chance to score as she got on the end of Ceri Holland’s cross but her header went over the bar.

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The Estonians would have been pleased to keep Wales out for the opening 26 minutes but their resistance was finally broken.

Harding passed to Sophie Ingle who slotted the ball into the box for Angharad James who produced a composed finish to roll the ball into the bottom corner of the net for her third goal in a Wales shirt.

With ten minutes to go until half time there was another good chance for the hosts as Harding’s shot-come-cross was headed wide by Gemma Evans.

On the stroke of half time, James sent a free kick into the box but Estonia cleared but when the ball was sent back in Ward headed wide.

Wales held a 1-0 lead at the break having dominated for much of the half and they were looking to add to their tally in the second half.

And just two minutes in they had their second of the game as Rhiannon Roberts sent an excellent ball through the middle for Helen Ward whose first time finish found the back of the net.

It was goal number for 44 for Wales’ all-time record scorer.

It was almost 3-0 two minutes later as James sent another through ball in for Harding but her shot was saved.

That third goal was only another two minutes away though as Ceri Holland’s cross to the back post was met by Harding whose shot was saved by the feet of the Estonian keeper with the ball rebounding back on to Harding and into the net.

On the hour mark Wales had a free kick but Jess Fishlock sent her effort wide.

With time running out Wales got their fourth as captain Ingle beat a defender and her shot sent the keeper the wrong way for a good finish.

That put the seal on their win and they will be full of confidence going into their next qualifying games.

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