Parry extends Wales unbeaten streak

Paul Parry (L) is congratulated by Ryan Giggs (C) and Craig Bellamy after scoring. Parry's first goal for Wales secured a 1-0 win against Canada at the Racecourse Ground meaning Mark Hughes's side are unbeaten in their last four matches since their Euro 2004 exit.

Paul Parry's first goal for Wales secured a 1-0 win against Canada at the Racecourse Ground meaning Mark Hughes's side are unbeaten in their last four matches since their Euro 2004 exit.

Parry's 21st minute header was all that separated the teams at the finish and the Cardiff midfielder had got on the scoresheet in only his third appearance.

However, Wales, who had Manchester United star Ryan Giggs on the field for most of the match, squandered several good chances for an even more emphatic win.

Giggs returned for Wales after missing the midweek draw in Norway, but boss Hughes opted to leave the captaincy with Aston Villa's Mark Delaney, who had the duty for the first time in Oslo.

Every time Giggs touched the ball the crowd roared their approval and it was his 10th minute corner that almost gave Wales the lead but Carl Fletcher's resulting header bounced off the post.

Fletcher though had his reward when he helped create Parry's goal. His chip down the right released Craig Bellamy and the Newcastle striker's centre to the far post was headed in by Parry past helpless Canada keeper Pat Onstad.

But Wales goalkeeper Danny Coyne almost gifted Canada an equaliser, twice seeing clearances charged down by Dwayne de Rosario and Everton's Tomasz Radzinski, only for the ball to bounce wide each time.

Wales though should have been 2-0 up before the break. Parry intercepted a clearance and fed Bellamy only for the striker's curling effort to be well saved by the 36-year-old Onstad.

Cardiff keeper Martyn Margetson won his first cap after replacing Coyne at half-time while Canada brought on Sheffield United striker Paul Peschisolido and Marc Bircham for Jim Brennan and Atiba Hutchinson.

De Rosario, Bircham and then Julian De Guzman all had decent chances to equalise while Wales also spurned opportunities including John Oster shooting high when Bellamy and Giggs had set him up.

Bellamy wasted two more good chances and Giggs curled an effort wide before Margetson was forced into a fine save to deny Bircham.

Giggs came off to a standing ovation, allowing Wrexham's Chris Llewelyn on in front of his home crowd.