Rhiannon Roberts celebrates FAW

Rhiannon Roberts has scored in successive internationals having managed only two goals in her previous 86 Wales appearances

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

Wales kept their Women's World Cup qualifying bid on track, albeit in unconvincing fashion, as Rhiannon Roberts' goal secured a scrappy 1-0 win in Albania.

Roberts bundled in from Lily Woodham's cross and the goal stood despite Albanian protests amid suggestions that the ball came off the Wales defender's arm.

Even after taking the lead, Rhian Wilkinson's side never had the sort of control they enjoyed during Tuesday's comfortable win over the Albanians in Wrexham.

There were scares for Wales, most notably when Ilarja Zarka rattled the bar after the break, but they held on to ensure Sophie Ingle celebrated her 150th cap with a victory.

Wales have 10 points from four Group B1 games, though they trail leaders Czech Republic on goal difference after they beat Montenegro 4-1 earlier in the day.

As it stands, the Czechs' visit to Cardiff in the final game of the group phase in June looks like being key to deciding who finishes top and therefore secures a more favourable draw in the play-offs later this year.

But Wilkinson's players will be aware that much more complete performances than this will surely be required if they are to reach the Women's World Cup for the first time in 2027.

Wales analysis: Result the best news in Ingle's landmark game

Sophie Ingle heads into the netFAW

Sophie Ingle thought she had scored but was denied a 10th international goal by a marginal offside call

Ingle was given the captain's armband as she became just the second Welsh player after Jess Fishlock to reach 150 appearances for her country.

Ingle's international career began in inauspicious circumstances as Wales were beaten in Azerbaijan 17 years ago.

Wales are a different animal these days, though they were not at their best on a night when the result was much more satisfying than the performance.

Wilkinson's team had dominated on home soil against opponents who sit 40 places below them in the Fifa rankings, but it was a different story on a nervy evening in Elbasan.

The visitors' chief threat was from set-pieces, with Roberts' second goal of the week coming from a half-cleared Woodham corner.

When Woodham sent the ball back into the box, Albania keeper Rajmonda Spahiu failed to claim and Roberts' touch saw the ball bounce into a vacant net.

Wales thought they had a second goal from a corner as Ingle headed in from close range, but this time a tight offside call went in Albania's favour.

Mared Griffiths had a couple of sights of the home goal, while Albania had their moments before half-time as Megi Doci's cross clipped the bar and Roberts survived a penalty claim after Fortesa Berisha tumbled.

Having switched to three at the back at the start of the game, Wilkinson changed again at the break as Wales reverted to something more like the formation adopted at Stok Cae Ras.

But still her team struggled for fluency in possession and, after an Ingle shot went straight at Spahiu, Wales were lucky to escape as an Albanian counter ended with Zarka driving against the woodwork from outside the area.

Safia Middleton-Patel then pawed out Berisha's late header as Wales secured a second successive clean sheet and three points which may yet prove significant in their bid to reach Brazil.

Player of the match

A. Hilaj
10.00
21 A. Hilaj
10.00
3 A. Curraj
10.00
22 M. Metalla
10.00
18 S. Begallo
10.00
11 M. Doçi
9.00
16 I. Zarka
8.67
5 A. Bajraktari
8.33
20 K. Hamonikaj
8.33
10 G. Berisha
8.33
12 R. Spahiu
8.00
9 V. Troka
7.50
7 F. Berisha
7.33
2 A. Tukaj
7.00
14 E. Franja
6.50
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