UEFA U-21 Championship Play-off 2nd Leg
England 2 Wales 2 (at Villa Park - England win 5-4 on aggregate)

England finally found a safe passage to the European Under-21 Championships next summer but it was by no means plain sailing as they came up against a determined Welsh side.

Stuart Pearce’s youngsters had to show some of the resilience which had made him such a legend whenever he pulled on the shirt of the Three Lions – and they were forced to end the game with just ten men after the dismissal of midfielder Tom Huddlestone.

On a night of mixed emotions for Huddlestone, which saw him open England’s account and then get his marching orders in a controversial 66th minute decision by Dutch referee Kevin Blom, England at least found a way at last to tame the fiercest of Welsh dragons Aaron Ramsey.

The former Cardiff City star showed time and again the brilliance which encouraged Arsenal to prise him away from Ninian Park in the summer in a £5 million move and was instrumental in both the Welsh goals, claiming one for himself and then helping Simon Church to the other before England skipper Steven Taylor grabbed a 34th-minute strike to swing the result back in England’s favour.

For home boys Gabriel Agbonlahor and James Milner there was the chance to convert their Aston Villa form into national flair although Agbonlahor will have been heartbroken to have to go off at half time with a hamstring problem – just hours after learning he was to join Pearce and team-mates Joe Harte and David Wheater on a plane to meet up with the seniors in Belarus.

England had gone into this game with a 3-2 aggregate lead from Friday’s first leg in Cardiff with Milner celebrating his 40th cap with the Under 21s – a record-breaking appearance.

But from the outset it was clear Brian Flynn’s Celts were going to make it hard work.

England however, through Huddlestone, took the lead in the 13th minute. A foul by Ramsey on Adam Johnson earned a free kick for England and Huddlestone made no mistake in slamming it through the wall to put the home side one up.

There was no time for England to become complacent however and in the 24th minute, Ramsey showed just why Arsenal rate him so highly. A cross by Welsh midfielder Andy King found Simon Church who neatly flicked it on for Ramsey .

The striker brought it down from his right foot to his left and unleashed a powerful shot from 30 yards to bring Wales level on the night and in with a fighting chance due to the away goals rule.

And just four minutes later it really was game on when Church, who had caused England double-trouble in Cardiff by finding the back of the net twice, struck the ball sweetly over the head of England keeper Harte to bring the Welsh level.

Immediately England manager Stuart Pearce set about plugging the gaps in his midfield bringing on former Birmingham City player Fabrice Muamba for Lee Cattermole.

Johnson then tried to bring England back to life with a volley just over Welsh keeper Owain Fon Williams’ crossbar before England were ahead again.

Milner was unceremoniously felled wide on the right and the resulting free-kick found Taylor advancing on 34 minutes. With a little help from the unsuspecting Sam Vokes the ball was in the net and England had regained their slender advantage.

Just before half-time Wales won corner after a poor Jamie O’Hara headed clearance and there was Vokes with the flick-on but the ball flew well wide of Harte’s goal to give England another chance to take air.

The second half began a much more cagey affair with both sides seeming to need time to settle after the cut and thrust of the first 45 minutes.

And then came the incident which could have turned the game. Referee Blom ruled Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Huddlestone had made a late challenge on Welsh defender Darcy Blake and instantly reached for the red card from his breast pocket.

Television replays later suggested the decision to hand Huddlestone his marching orders had been harsh as the player fervently protested his innocence claiming he had not been malicious merely committed with the challenge.

Wales should now have stepped up the tempo again and made use of their additional man overlap but instead chances fell few and far between although Jack Collinson had a furious Brian Flynn chouting from the dug out after failing to meet Simon Church’s head with a cross on 79 minutes.

In the 84th minute England themselves had a penalty appeal after Manchester United ace Frazier Campell collided with Blake while running at goal but this time the appeals fell on deaf ears.

Almost immediately at the other end Vokes thought he had taken the game into extra time only to see his right-footed shot denied by a combination of the post, Joe Harte and England skipper Steve Taylor.

Wales tried and tried in the closing minutes to grab that elusive winner and the goal that would break English hearts but time again Michael Mancienne led the defensive line, knocking back every Celtic advance.

As the final whistle was blown the English players joined their manager in rejoicing at their achievements.

The feelings of the Welsh who had come so near and yet so far could be summed up with the tears shed by keeper Owain Williams.

For them their dreams of a Scandinavian adventure now lie in tatters – shredded by the Three Lions’ claws.

Scorers: Huddlestone (13) 1-0, ,Ramsey (24) 1-1, Church (28) 1-2.

S Taylor (34) 2-2.

England (4-3-3): Hart (Man City), Wheater (Middlesbrough), S Taylor (Newcastle), Mancienne (Chelsea), O’Hara (Tottenham), A Johnson (Middlesbrough).Cattermole (Middlesbrough - Muamba (Bolton W, 31), Huddlestone (Tottenham), Milner (VILLA), Noble (West Ham), Agbonlahor (VILLA - Campbell (Man United, 45 ) .Substitutes: A. Taylor (Middlesbrough), Heaton (Man.United) Cranie (Charlton Ath.), Derbyshire (Blackburn), Lallana (Southampton)
Wales (4-3-3): Williams (Stockport County), Eardley (Oldham), D Blake (Cardiff City), J Jacobson (Bristol R ), R.Wiggins (Crystal Palace), A King (Leicester City - M.Bradley (WALSALL, 59), J Collison (West Ham United), S MacDonald (Swansea City - N. Adams (Leicester City, 85), S.Vokes (WOLVES), A Ramsey (Arsenal), S Church (Reading). Substitutes: R. Taylor (Chelsea), L.James (Southampton), G.Basey (Charlton), J.Brown (Cardiff City), Allen (Swansea).

Referee: Kevin Blom (Netherlands)

Bookings: Wales – Wiggins, Blake (both fouls|).

Sending-off: England – Huddlestone (serious foul play)

Attendance: 23, 812.