Reading striker Simon Church made his first start for Wales in Azerbaijan on Saturday, and helped his nation to a 1-0 victory in a World Cup qualifying encounter.

Church, 20, played 83 minutes of the encounter in Baku and was part of one of the youngest Welsh teams in history.

The young frontman came closest to scoring in the first half when almost clear through on goal, only to be denied by a top class tackle from a home defender.

Wearing the number 9 shirt, Simon was replaced by Owain Tudur-Jones of Swansea with seven minutes to go.

It has been a fantastic few weeks for Simon, having made his full Reading debut in the second leg of the Burnley play-off and then going away with Wales.

Welsh teammate Chris Gunter said, "You can't buy that experience... people talk about experience all the time in football and the only way you can get it is by playing.

"So to look back and say we played in Azerbaijan and got a 1-0 win - it was a clean sheet, it can't do anyone any harm and to get the win as well is even better.

"People like Churchy who's come in for his first competitive game, Aaron Ramsey... Joe Ledley's our captain and he's 22 which says it all."