In many respects it was one of those international friendlies that confirmed what most people already suspected. While Michael O'Neill's Northern Ireland team are awkward opponents and far greater than the sum of their parts, Wales without Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey is not something that Chris Coleman wants to contemplate at Euro 2016.
There was little to choose between the sides in a disappointing game that Wales salvaged a draw from courtesy of Simon Church’s 90th-minute penalty. Gareth McAuley’s clumsy challenge on the Wales substitute left Steven McLean, the Scottish referee, with no option but to point to the spot and Church confidently converted.
Up until that point Northern Ireland had looked set to win their first friendly away from home under O’Neill. Craig Cathcart’s second international goal, following Northern Ireland’s best spell of the game, put the visitors ahead and it was hard to see Wales finding a way back. Church, however, prevented the home team’s send-off for France turning into something of a damp squib.
The opening 45 minutes confirmed that would be the case. Wales and Northern Ireland huffed and puffed but goalmouth action was in short supply and the atmosphere, not surprisingly, was a little flat.
Central defence
The fact Northern Ireland were set up with a three-man central defence, with Cathcart and
Jonny Evans
either side of Gareth McAuley, did not make life any easier for Wales.
Sam Vokes
, who has been in such good form at club level since the turn of the year, cut an isolated figure at times. The Burnley striker had a brief sight of goal in the 36th minute and will probably think that he should have at least forced a save from Michael McGovern when he produced a twisting header from David Cotterill’s corner.
Cotterill, operating wide on the left, came closest to opening the scoring before the interval. The Birmingham City winger thrashed in a low free-kick that skidded off the wet surface and forced McGovern into a scrambled save low to his right.
Northern Ireland put together a couple of neat passages of play but Wayne Hennessey had little to do in the Wales goal prior to the interval. The visitors started the second half much more brightly and the warning signs were there for Wales before Cathcart's goal. Not long before that Kyle Lafferty had an opportunity to put Northern Ireland ahead,when the ball broke kindly to him in the area after Adam Matthews intercepted a Steven Davis pass, but the striker shot tamely at Daniel Ward.
Cathcart was not so forgiving. Wales switched off as Northern Ireland took a quick corner and when Paddy McNair clipped a cross into the area, James Chester could only half-clear. Davis got to the ball first on the edge of the area and Cathcart did the rest, turning and hitting a low shot that beat Ward for pace. That looked like being enough for Northern Ireland but Church had other ideas and averted a second successive loss for Coleman's side. Guardian Service
