Wales' hopes of qualifying for next summer's Uefa Under-21 Championships in Sweden took a bit of a setback on Friday night as they were beaten 3-2 by rivals England.

Reading youngster Simon Church gave the home side the best possible start on 13 minutes, capitalising on a defensive error from Stuart Pearce's side to put Wales 1-0 in front. The striker's goal was Wales' reward for a fine start to the tie at Ninian Park which saw Swans' player Shaun MacDonald go close on two occasions.

The English upped their game following Church's 13th minute opener and soon afterwards David Wheater towered to meet Jamie O'Hara's right-sided corner and head through a crowded area into the bottom corner; a set-piece Brian Flynn's side should have dealt with.

Wales suffered a further blow when Wheater's Middlesbrough colleague, Adam Johnson, skipped past Dragons' skipper Neal Eardley to fire past Owain Fon Williams to put England in front, but that lead lasted until just before half-time when Church grabbed his second to bring Wales back into the game.

But a disappointing start to the second period led to Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who struck the bar in the first-half, neatly flicking the ball past Fon Williams from Mark Noble's cross but many would argue that Romanian referee Pavel Balaj should have halted play for a high Tom Huddlestone boot in the immediate build-up to England's third.

Wales attempted to get themselves back into the tie and a brilliant piece of skill, run and strike from Shaun MacDonald late on almost brought an equalising goal but his attempt was thwarted by Joe Hart.

It was to be his last piece of action as he was replaced on 76 minutes while Swansea City's other representative on the night, Joe Allen, who is currently on loan at Wrexham, was introduced just before the hour.

Ex-Swans boss Flynn now has a lot of hard work to do ahead of the second-leg at Villa Park on Tuesday night.

Wales: Owain Fon Williams (Stockport), Neal Eardley (Oldham), Darcy Blake (Cardiff), Lewin Nyatanga (Derby), Rhoys Wiggins (Crystal Palace), Jack Collison (West Ham), Nicky Adams (Leicester), Andy King (Leicester), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Shaun MacDonald (Swans), Simon Church (Reading).

Subs: Joe Jacobson (Bristol Rovers), Rhys Taylor (Chelsea), Lloyd James (Southampton), Mike Williams (Wrexham), Jonathan Brown (Cardiff), Joe Allen (Swans), Marc Williams (Wrexham).