Resurgent Wales put brakes on Montenegro

Wales got their first victory of UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying and did their neighbours England a huge favour in the process.

Montenegro had arrived in Cardiff unbeaten in Group G and level on points with England but left three points adrift, their record having been spoiled by goals from Steve Morison and Aaron Ramsey.

Gary Speed's hosts had an early scare when Stevan Jovetić got into a shooting position after 20 seconds only to drag his shot wide. Save for a wasted Radomir Djalović effort at 1-0, that was about as good as it got for Zlatko Kranjčar's team until a belated rally when Jovetić halved the deficit.

Midfielder David Vaughan was the creator of Wales' opening goal after 29 minutes with a burst down the left and fine, low cross that Mladen Božović failed to smother, allowing Morison to slam the loose ball in for his first international goal. Gareth Bale almost doubled the lead immediately with a dipping shot that Božović tipped over.

The visiting goalkeeper then foiled Morison at his near post as Wales pushed for a second before the break. Instead it arrived within five minutes of the restart as Bale slid a pass inside to meet Ramsey's run from midfield, the Arsenal FC player sweeping a first-time shot into the far corner.

Jovetić gave Montenegro hope of a comeback after 71 minutes when he stepped inside Chris Gunter and launched an unstoppable shot past Wayne Hennessey, yet their late pressure did not yield an equaliser. Wales had their first points and the only downside came with yellow cards for Vaughan and Craig Bellamy that rule them out of Tuesday's trip to face an England side who will also provide Montenegro's next opponents in October.