Lucas leads way as Wales surge past San Marino

A 30-metre stunner from captain Lee Lucas was the highlight as Wales posted a comfortable Group 1 victory against San Marino in Bangor – their biggest win at this level in four years.

A scrappy first half ended on a high for the home side as the impressive Ellis Harrison curled in a goal, before Lucas's outstanding strike doubled the lead after the break. Wesley Burns and Billy Bodin added further gloss to earn payback for Wales's shock 1-0 UEFA European Under-21 Championship loss in Serravalle last month.

The tone was set early as Harrison crashed an attempt against the post but the visitors appeared to be holding out until the interval as Massimo Francioni did excellently to deny Bodin and Thomas Lawrence's goalbound efforts. However, the hosts got their reward on 44 minutes when Harrison swept in Morgan Fox's pass.

Lucas arrowed a rocket of a shot into the top corner on 50 minutes to further dent San Marino hopes, before Burns made the game safe 14 minutes later with a cool finish. Bodin jinked his way through a crowded box six minutes from time to cap a deserved success.