WALES 1 SLOVENIA 1 - UNDER 17 - UEFA ELITE ROUND IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Wales got off to a slow start in the first match of the Elite Round of Under 17 UEFA qualifiers in Lurgan, Northern Ireland.

Against a side rated as the weakest of the four in the group, Wales were made to work hard and the Slovenians always looked dangerous.

At half time there was no score, but eleven minutes after the restart, Adnan Besic put Slovenia ahead after a mistake by the Wales goalkeeper, Daniel Hanford.

It took Wales seventeen minutes to get on level terms, thanks to a spectacular 25 yard volley from David Stephens of Norwich City that beat the Slovenian goalkeepe's right hand.

From then on, Slovenia were the more likely to score, hitting the bar in the 72nd minute and three minutes later having another shot go just wide of the Welsh post.

Earlier in the second half, Wales had lost skipper Kai Edwards of Cardiff after the effects of a head injury.

The final score of 1-1 means all eyes will be on the second match of the group between Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Wales play again on Wednesday against Scotland, with the final match against N.Ireland on Saturday. The group winners progress to the finals in Turkey in May.