Wales 1 - 0 Macedonia: Simon Church grabs winner as Craig Bellamy plays final home international
11th Oct 2013
Simon Church's second-half goal was enough to deliver the win for Chris Coleman but the night was about saying farewell to a Welsh legend
At least Craig Bellamy was able to bow out a winner on his final appearance in a Wales shirt in his homeland.
Simon Church's 67th minute goal, perhaps predictably set up by Bellamy himself, enabled Chris Coleman's side to lift themselves off the bottom of their World Cup group and at least put something of a tiny smile on the face of a nation at the end of what has been a truly depressing qualifying campaign.
Wales, pepped and inspired by Bellamy and Aaron Ramsey throughout, fully merited their win, although no-one should start getting too carried away about three points gained over hapless Macedonia.
The victory will ease a little of the pressure upon the shoulders of under-fire manager Chris Coleman, although I doubt it will have too much impact upon his future in the job.
Coleman takes his team to Belgium for the final game in the group on Tuesday and the way he and FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford have been talking, that could be his last match in charge, too.
It may yet be that a new manager is in situ for next month's friendly international at this same Cardiff City Stadium venue. What price that being Bellamy himself, in a caretaker capacity?
He certainly won't be pulling on the boots for his country at home any more, this encounter marking the end of a wonderful 15 years in front of his home fans when, at times, Bellamy has looked a truly world class footballer.
There have been highs, there have been lows. This game was neither, to be perfectly honest, but it was fitting that Bellamy walked off at the final whistle a winner, saluting every corner of the ground as the fans present paid tribute to a Welsh warrior and legend.
Bellamy has had a rollercoaster ride during his 15 years as a Wales player, but even amongst the many downs he can rarely have featured in a Wales side which had to be thrown together quite as hurriedly as the one Coleman was forced to send into battle last night.
The back four featured a left back playing at right back in Neil Taylor, a right back playing at centre back in Chris Gunter and Declan John, a Cardiff City reserve thrown into the thick of the action because Wales were shorn of no fewer than 17 players.
At least Bellamy and Aaron Ramsey were there to sprinkle some stardust, but Coleman's limited options were perhaps best summed up by an 11 person bench made up largely of a bunch of teenagers or lower division players yet to make any sort of mark in the game, let alone at this highest level of the lot.
West Brom goalkeer Boaz Myhill, dropped for a returning Wayne Hennessey, was the one Premier League regular exception to the rule. The rest of Coleman's substitutes consisted of Lloyd Isgrove (Southampton), James Wilson (Cheltenham), Jazz Richards (Huddersfield), Daniel Alfei (Swansea), Harry Wilson (Liverpool), Owain Tudur Jones (Hibernian), David Cotterill (Doncaster), Jermaine Easter (Millwall), Owain Fon Williams (Tranmere) and Rhoys Wiggins (Charlton).
It put must-win Wales on something of a hiding to nothing, the lack of options meaning Coleman's side had to hit the ground running right from the start, get an early foothold in the game and establish their superiority because they couldn't strengthen from the bench.
Invariably whenever Ramsey or Bellamy were on the ball, fans were on the edge of their seat with excitement and anticipation building, but it flattered to deceive in an uninspiring first half as the bottom two sides in Group A each offered little in the way of invention or flair.
Bellamy did fire in a whistling 30-yard drive which Macedonia goalkeeper Tome Pacovski had to hurriedly beat out, grabbing the rebound quickly as two onrushing Welsh players prepared to pounce.
Pacovski also had to be alert to keep out a 20-yard shot from Taylor after the Swans man linked well with Hal Robson-Kanu, while Andy King was unfortunate to see his flick from Ramsey's corner appear to be heading towards the Macedonian net, only for Exgian Alioski to clear at the last minute.
But the best scoring opportunity of the half fell at the other end to Nikolce Noveski, who suddenly found himself in oceans of space inside the Welsh penalty area. He went around Hennessey and only had to tap home into the empty net, somehow contriving to horrendously put his shot sailing over the bar.
It was the miss of the season, Hennessey and his defence heaving a huge sigh of relief at their lucky escape.
With Ramsey, David Vaughan and Andy King gaining an upperhand in the midfield battleground and Bellamy beginning to look menacing, Wales began to pass the ball around in more stylish fashion after the break and their reward arrived in the 67th minute as Church deservedly fired them into the lead.
It was a cracker of a goal, too, perhaps the best team effort of this entire World Cup campaign as Ramsey sent Bellamy flying away down the right. The cross from the Cardiff City man was pinpoint perfect, delivered right into the path of Church who fired high into the middle of Pacovski's net.
Firmly on top, Wales went for the jugular with the crowd willing Bellamy to get a goal on his farewell appearance. The opportunity appeared to arrive in the 84th minute when he linked beautifully with Ramsey, the Arsenal man upended in the box as he was about to unleash a shot goalwards.
Armenian referee Suren Baliyen immediately pointed to the penalty spot. 'Give it to Bellers' was the wish of the crowd. Not so. Ramsey is the team penalty taker, this game still had to be won and he duly stepped up for the spot kick... only to drive his shot straight at a grateful Pacovski.
Wales had to hope they weren't going to pay for that squandered moment, but they had worked hard enough to get into this winning position and they weren't going to give it away at the end.
They didn't and Bellamy was able to bow out the winner he wanted to be. Farewell to a magnificent servant to the Welsh game.
Ramsey made their first meaningful surge as his cross evaded Church, while Mirko Ivanoski chipped over after a surging run from a rapid Macedonia counter.
Ramsey was always likely to be Wales’ key man, and he was central to all their best moments.
Another lovely run and pass from the Arsenal man found Neil Taylor cutting in onto his left foot, but Tome Pacovski held his shot.
Ramsey then teed up Andy King, who flicked an effort goalwards to be palmed away by Pacovski.
But Wales really should have been behind two minutes later when they failed to clear a Macedonia corner.
The hoist back into the box fell to Noveski, the defender rounded Wayne Hennessey, winning his first cap for almost two years, but could only scoop his strike well over the bar.
Wales responded with an excellent attack but Church could not get his header on target from debutant Declan John’s superb cross, and Hal Robson-Kanu had a strong penalty shout waved away after a clumsy tackle by Ezgjan Alioski.
Bellamy, who was having a quiet game, sprang to life with a rasping drive that Pacovski held at the second attempt, before a deflected Church shot landed on the roof of his net.
David Vaughan and John struck the woodwork in quick succession at the start of the second half before Wales finally finished one of their chances in the 67th minute.
Ramsey’s perfect pass to Bellamy saw the Cardiff man tee up Church for an easy finish to make it 1-0.
Bellamy could have doubled the lead after more marvellous play by Ramsey, but did not have the legs to evade the covering defenders.
Macedonia had been on the back foot but they would have levelled in the 71st minute had it not been for a sharp Hennessey stop, after Pandev had been given an age to turn and pick his spot.
Wales were guilty of trying to sit on their lead but succeeded only in inviting pressure, and Hennessey had to be alert again when Agim Ibraimi snuck in at the far post.
But the hosts should have doubled their lead when Ramsey was brought down in the box by Noveski.
The midfielder appeared to speak with the retiring Bellamy about who should take the spot-kick, but assumed the responsibility and fired his effort straight at Pacovski.
However, it did not matter as Wales came through some nervy final moments to secure a much-needed win for Coleman.
Aaron Ramsey Man of the Match
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