Women's World Cup 2023 qualifier: Wales cruise to win

Helen Ward's goal was her 44th for Wales in her 96th appearance, while Natasha Harding scored her 22nd Wales goal as she won her 93rd cap

Wales treated a record crowd of 5,455 at the Cardiff City Stadium to a dominant display as they thrashed Estonia 4-0 in the Welsh capital.

Record scorer Helen Ward doubled Wales' lead after half time before Natasha Harding's tap-in made the result safe.

Wales kept pushing and ended the contest with over 30 shots on goal and added a late fourth when captain Sophie Ingle smashed home after a fine run.

Wales' dominant display capped another pleasing international break for Wales' women.

This was simply a must-win game for Grainger's charges as they look to secure at least a runners-up berth from World Cup qualifying group I.

Wales have never qualified for a major tournament, but have made a promising start in their bid to reach the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Having thrashed Kazakhstan 6-0 in their opening game, Grainger's side ground out a 1-0 victory in Estonia before securing a creditable 1-1 draw in Slovenia last Friday as they look to keep pace with group leaders France.

Manager Gemma Grainger has been clear in her aims to make Wales a more attacking side and that policy was reflected in her starting XI with Ceri Holland switching from right wing to left back and Manchester United's talent teen Carrie Jones earning a start in attack.

Watford's Ward also earned a recall in place of the suspended Kayleigh Green, earning her 96th as Wales' record scorer looked to add to her goal tally.

Ward might have put Wales ahead as early as the 11th minute, but she just failed to connect with Harding's cross, while Harding herself failed to convert from a Karina Kork save as she looked to turn home a rebound.

Wales continued on the front-foot in a one-sided first half where they enjoyed 85% possession, but Kork saved efforts from distance from captain Sophie Ingle and Holland, while Harding drilled wide and Ward headed over.

The breakthrough arrived on 27 minutes when Ingle's perfect pass bisected Estonia's defence and Angharad James ran clear to slot home as she scored just her third Wales goal on her 90th appearance.

Wales pushed for a second before the interval, but Harding shot tamely at Kork and saw her cross evade both Gemma Evans and Jones by a matter of inches, before Ingle and Ward both glanced headers just wide.

The wait for a second goal did not last long though, with Ward scoring her 44th international goal on 48 minutes as she slipped the ball under Kork after Rhiannon Roberts' threaded through ball.

The cushion eased Wales nerves and Harding soon added a third from close-range after Holland's teasing cross.

How many goals Wales could score became the only issue at 3-0 and with the match won and Grainger opted to give a debut to Hannah Cain, the Leicester midfielder who has switched allegiances from England.

Wales' pressure never relented and Harding was denied a second by a last-ditch tackle, before Roberts headed straight at Kork.

The chances kept coming but Cain's firmly-struck volley was pushed over by Kork and Jones' superb run and cross deserved more, but Harding just failed to make telling contact.

Harding might have score a hat-trick at least on another night, but she was again denied by Kork, who deserves immense credit for keeping the score respectable on a night where Wales had 80% possession and a total of 32 shots.

However, they were not to be denied a late flourish and Ingle scored the pick of the goals on the night as she beat two defenders before slamming home.

Player of the match: Karina Kork, Estonia, the visiting goalkeeper kept the score respectable.