Wales' 2019 Centenary Shield campaign got off to a winning start on Friday evening versus English Schools FA away at Slough Town FC. It was our first win away from home against England in seven years and Wales' first under Marc Lloyd Williams' management.

It was a game of two halves with England dominating the first half exchanges causing Wales problems throughout. England looked to play with width and stretch the Welsh defence with varying success. The early exchanges saw England force Eric Green to make a couple of good saves to keep them at bay. Part of a defence who kept a clean sheet in all their Rome games and proved to be the difference once again in their first Centenary Shield game. The Welsh players found it hard to get a foot hold in the game, especially in attack but on the 41st minute they made a break through. Another set piece, this time from a freekick, something that Wales exploited as a weakness in the English defence. Jack Wilson pounced on the loose ball from the freekick to score only to be adjudged as offside, a decision the Welsh can feel hard done by according to the commentators on YouTube live stream. Nonetheless, the never say die attitude from the Welsh in the first half set them up for the second half.

The game opened up in the second half and Wales grew into the game causing the English defence lots of problems. Jack Wilson's pace on the counter was pinning the English defence back and creating space from the Welsh midfield to get on the ball to control the game. Again England had chances but resorted to long shots from outside the area, a strike that would have to be very special to beat the inform Eric Green. It was clear to see that after the Welsh manager had been asked to leave the pitch by the referee, the Welsh team were happy to come away from the game with a 0-0 result. A professional and disciplined performance to go back to Wales with and look to build on in the competition. However, Wales weren't done there.. England attacked wide and the full back delivered a dangerous ball into the box only to be denied once again. Jack Wilson picked up the loose ball just outside the Welsh 18 yard box and drove on towards the English goal. A fantastic turn of speed and ball control at high speed took a huge amount of determination at such a lot stage in the game. Wilson drove into the English box before losing control under the pressure of two defenders. The English centre halves looked to have cleared the danger before substitute Charlie Caton intercepted the clearance with his effort ricocheting into the empty net. An opportunist goal for one of two players in the squad who are still studying for their GCSE's. The goal sparked celebrations amongst the Welsh camp before they managed the game to the final whistle after some increased pressure from the English attack once again. 

For most people at Slough Town FC a shock victory but the Welsh' determination to work till the final minutes was just reward and a great start to the 2019 Centenary Shield. Up next for the young Welsh Dragons is Northern Ireland at Aberystwyth FC on Thursday 14th March 7.00pm KO. Pob Iwc!

TEAM: Eric Green, Evan Lloyd, Bobby Beaumont, Lee Jenkins (Alaric Jones 50'), Ben Vanstone, Telor Williams, Taylor Evans (Scott Butler 55'), Toby Vickery, Dylan Jones, Jack Wilson, Cavan Williams (Charlie Caton 70') (Subs: Shaun Gardiner, Joe Dyer, Tristan Jenkins, Alaric Jones, Charlie Caton, Oliver Lanceley, Scott Butler)