‘Let’s be party-poopers’

HELEN Ward insists Wales are determined not to witness another qualification party for a rival.

Norway will win Wales’ Women’s European Championship qualifying group if they defeat Jayne Ludlow’s side in today’s qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales’ 2019 World Cup qualification group concluded with England claiming a winner-takes-all contest in Newport.

“That feeling won’t leave us, it was heartbreaking seeing England go to a World Cup at our expense,” Ward said.

“It’s our home pitch and we are not thinking about letting Norway have their party, no way.”

Wales are hoping to keep their hopes of a first major finals appearance on course against the runaway Group C leaders.

A win or a draw for Jayne Ludlow’s side would be a major step towards at least a play-off berth.

Ward says Wales will take a lot from their display in Oslo last month, when they were beaten only 1-0 by a Norway side who had scored 32 goals in their previous four matches.

“We will be the underdog when we come up against Norway but that is nothing new to us,” she told BBC Sport Wales.

“That is not to say we won’t try and be as good on the ball as we can. I thought we were unfortunate not to get a point last month in Norway.

“We’ve put up the strongest test against them in this group and we want to go one better this time.”

Ward, Wales’ record scorer, also admitted her international goal drought has “weighed a little heavy” on her. The Watford striker scored her 43rd goal for Wales in Thursday’s 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands.

Ward says she feels a sense of relief after scoring a first Wales goal in 1331 days.

“The goal has been a while coming, I’ve had a baby and a couple of injuries since my last goal,” she said.