Euro joy for Allen and Ward over Skrtel's Slovakia
There was joy for Joe Allen and Danny Ward as Wales opened their Euro 2016 campaign with a 2-1 win over Martin Skrtel’s Slovakia in Bordeaux on Saturday.
The Liverpool trio all went the full distance with Skrtel captaining his country as Chris Coleman’s side produced an heroic performance to claim a victory in their first major tournament since 1958.
With regular first choice goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey ruled out with a back problem, Ward was handed his first start by his country and he can be pleased with his performance, while Allen was outstanding in midfield.
Ward, 22, became only the fourth Liverpool goalkeeper to play in a European Championship following Ray Clemence in 1980, Sander Westerveld in 2000 and Pepe Reina in 2008.
After Wales had survived a scare when a Slovakia effort was cleared off the line in spectacular style by Ben Davies, Gareth Bale fired his team into the lead with a stunning 30-yard free-kick that beat Matus Kozacik.
Wales might have had the chance to make it 2-0 when Skrtel appeared to have hauled down Jonny Williams, but the penalty claim was waved away.
Bale almost made it 2-0 on 56 minutes when he made connection with a superb Joe Allen cross, but his header was brilliantly kept out by the reflexes of Kozacik.
Substitute Ondrej Duda then levelled it up for Slovakia on 61 minutes with his first touch since coming on as a substitute, after being set up by Robert Mak.
Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey then had a great chance to win it but could only head over the bar from close range.
However, with 10 minutes to go Ramsey was the provider as substitute Hal Robson-Kanu fired to make it 2-1.
Ward and Wales then survived a late scare when Slovakia hit the post from close range, but there was to be no denying Coleman's charges.
Wales are back in action when they face England in Lens on Thursday afternoon, while Skrtel’s Slovakia face Russia on Wednesday afternoon.