EIFION Williams, the Barry Town striker with a touch of gold near goal, rapped out a stunning message with his first touch in senior international soccer last night.
On a bitterly cold night in Wrexham, Williams went on as substitute after 71 minutes - and scored a beauty two minutes later.
Williams had not touched the ball when he made a perfectly-timed, darting run through the heart of the Irish defence. The pass, from Carl Robinson, was superb and Williams smashed home an unstoppable shot from just inside the penalty area.
Preston's Kurt Nogan, one of the best strikers in the Second Division with 16 goals this season, had barely made a dent in the Irish back division. Cardiff-born Nogan went off when former Wales under-21 international Williams went on - and watched the new boy make a remarkable first few steps at this level.
Williams' strike proved the only goal of the night at the Racecourse and Wales 'B' manager, Graham Williams enthused: "The finish was world class - he knew what he was going to do as he ran and his shot looked as though it had been fired from a cannon."
The goal was the highlight of a low-key match which produced tidy performances from the former Caernarfon striker, skipper Robert Page and striker Marc Lloyd-Williams.
Everton's John Oster, too, looked sharp and it was he, plus Page, who sent out a strong message to the watching Wales manager Bobby Gould that they are keen to regain a place in the main squad.
"Oster was excellent," said Williams. Oster was replaced by Peterborough's Simon Davies, aged 19, during the second half.
"We know what John can do and we wanted a look at Simon," said Williams. "He has a big future - he's a born footballer."
During a poor first half, Wales created the best chance when Lloyd-Williams released Oster and his fierce shot was beaten away by goalkeeper Maik Taylor of Fulham.
Nogan went close just before half-time but there were few chances until Williams appeared with just 19 minutes left.
Proudly clutching his cap, awarded immediately after the match, the 23-year old Anglesey-born striker, one of only two Welsh speaking players in the squad, relived his proudest moment.
Only an hour or so earlier, Williams had been completely lost as he wheeled away in delight after scoring with his first touch in senior international football.
"It was a fantastic pass from Carl Robinson and I made the sort of run I make every match," said Williams.
"I struck the ball well from just inside the area and, luckily enough, it went in.
"Once I'd scored I didn't know what to do. I ran to the corner and I was lost. But I am proud to score for my country."
Williams has scored a mighty 94 goals since joining Barry Town from Caernarfon Town at the start of last season.
He was a snip at �25,000, hammered 57 goals in his first season and has 36 so far this campaign - plus last night's cracker.
Now Williams is rated in the �100,000-plus class by Barry.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This report first published in the South Wales Echo, 10.02.1999.
Match report, Wales 'B' v Northern Ireland 'B', Friendly, 09.02.1999.
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