Wales were watched by their record crowd of 2,168 at Rodney Parade for Loren Dykes’ 100th cap but were held to a goalless draw in the friendly with the Czech Republic.
Jess Fishlock combined well with Elise Hughes before firing over the bar, the former later seeing another effort turned round the post by goalkeeper Barbora Votikova.
Petra Bartholdova came closest for the Czech Republic in the closing stages of the opening half and substitute Jitka Chlastkova hit the outside of Laura O’Sullivan’s post on the hour mark.
Dykes almost made it a perfect night when her deep cross on 83 minutes clipped the top of Votikova’s crossbar, while in injury-time Katerina Buzkova went close for the visitors with the last real opportunity of the game.
Not one of us can achieve anything alone.
There are those who’ve paved the way&there are those who help us along the way. Especially when we need it most ❤️
Family,friends,past&present coaches/staff,teachers,volunteers& the amazing women I proudly call my teammates.Thank you🏴 pic.twitter.com/gRv7kmjSMb
— Loren Dykes (@loren_dykes) April 4, 2019
Manager Jayne Ludlow told faw.cymru:
“For us it was a game of two halves. We lost our way in the second half for a 20 minute spell and they highlighted some concerns for us. We’re creating chances, the focus for us is performance, and I’m sure it will come in time for the qualifiers. I would be concerned if we weren’t creating chances, but that’s not the case. There were some really good performances from individuals in the opening half.”
Wales: O’Sullivan, Dykes (c), Evans, Ingle, Hughes (Horrell, 81), Ward (Nolan, 74), James, Green (Morgan, 88), Fishlock, Harding, Ladd.
Unused subs: Williams, Clark, Filbey, Lloyd, Estcourt, Wynne.
Czech Republic: Votikova, Bartholdova, Bartonova, Martinkova (Buzkova, 83), Vonkova (c), Necidova, Cahynova, Vystejnova, Starova, Divisova (Chlastakova, 58), Nepokojova (Dedinova, 66).
Unused subs: Sedlackova, Vesela, Molkova, Ruzickova, Szewieckova, Vanickova.
