Wilson is the hat-trick hero as Wales go goal crazy to bag a home tie

THERE'S plenty of work to be done, but the road to next summer's World Cup looks slightly smoother for Wales after a hugely impressive thumping of qualifying rivals North Macedonia at the Cardiff City Stadium.

- TOM COLEMAN

A delighted Wales boss Craig Bellamy celebrates on the touchline

A winner-take-all contest for second place saw these two sides locked on 13 points in Group J, but there was clear daylight between the two sides on the night as Wales romped their way to a scintillating win.

Harry Wilson, captain for the night, set his side on their way with a first-half penalty, before David Brooks added a second.

Bojan Miovski briefly made things uncomfortable by pulling a goal back almost immediately, before Brennan Johnson's stunner restored the two-goal cushion.

Daniel James then added a fourth after halftime, before Wilson doubled his tally for the night by curling home a magnificent freekick.

And the Fulham star completed the hat-trick with another penalty late on, before Nathan Broadhead tapped in a seventh.

The astonishing victory means Wales will now have the luxury of coming back to the capital in March, an advantage Craig Bellamy acknowledged would potentially be pivotal in their bid to reach next summer's finals.