If England are to fulfil Stuart Pearce’s remit and win the European Under-21 Championship in Sweden next summer, they will surely have to overcome a variety of hurdles, so last night’s examination of their resilience at Cardiff City’s Ninian Park provided not only a crucial first-leg advantage but also a useful exercise in their development.

Gabriel Agbonlahor, the Aston Villa forward, scored the winning goal that gives England a distinct advantage for when the teams reconvene at his home ground on Tuesday. But Wales, having won 3-0 away to Romania after losing 1-0 at home to reach this play-off, have “previous” in upsetting expectations.

Simon Church, the Reading striker who is on loan with Wycombe Wanderers, scored twice in a high-octane first half as England had to come from behind and were then pegged back after David Wheater and Adam Johnson, the Middlesbrough players, had scored in between. “I was hoping the headlines were going to be our prayers answered by Church,” Brian Flynn, the Wales manager, said.

There will be worse sides than Wales in the eight-team tournament next June. This inexperienced but excellent young group, without players of the calibre of Wayne Hennessey, Gareth Bale and Chris Gunter, who are required by the seniors playing Liechtenstein across Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium today, trebled the number of goals England have conceded in nine matches in this campaign.

Wales know realistically that they have to win by two clear goals at Villa Park if they are to qualify for their first European finals at this level, but England, having won seven games in topping their group, had their work cut out to impose their experience.

“From the point of view of a learning curve, this was a tremendous experience,” Pearce, the England head coach, said. “It’s by no means over but at least we go to Villa Park with our noses in front. If you feel as if our work’s done here, though, you will be sadly mistaken.”

England were rattled in the opening stages, unable to claim any decent possession and, in Pearce’s opinion, defending too deep. With Aaron Ramsey imperious, Wales knocked the ball around in fine style and deserved their early advantage. Michael Mancienne, the Chelsea defender, made a superb tackle but Steven Taylor’s poor control ushered the ball into the path of Church, who slotted home neatly.

When Agbonlahor’s low drive was repelled by Owain fon Williams, Jamie O’Hara’s corner was headed goalwards by Wheater. Rhoys Wiggins had a clear sighting of the ball but, in the slow motion normally allocated to nightmares, the left back failed to stop it crossing the line.

Agbonlahor sent a brilliant rising drive against the crossbar before Mark Noble delivered an incisive first-time pass behind Neal Eardley and Johnson managed to keep his feet despite the right back’s grappling and swerved his shot beyond Fon Williams.

Noble’s ingenuity and class were then matched by Ramsey, whose reverse pass set up Church to equalise a minute before half-time. England regained their initiative in the 61st minute when Noble ran into the penalty area and drove in a low cross that Agbonlahor flicked over the line with an audacious back-heel.

Wales (4-4-1-1): O Fon Williams (Stockport County) — N Eardley (Oldham Athletic), D Blake (Cardiff City), L Nyatanga (Derby County), R Wiggins (Crystal Palace) — N Adams (Leicester City; sub: J Allen, Swansea City, 61min), J Collison (West Ham United), A King (Leicester City; sub: L James, Southampton, 84), S MacDonald (Swansea City; sub: J Brown, Cardiff City, 76) — A Ramsey (Arsenal) — S Church (Reading). Substitutes not used: J Jacobson (Bristol Rovers), R Taylor (Chelsea), Mike Williams (Wrexham), Marc Williams (Wrexham). Booked: Allen.

England (4-3-3): J Hart (Manchester City) — D Wheater (Middlesbrough), S Taylor (Newcastle United), M Mancienne (Chelsea), J O’Hara (Tottenham Hotspur) — M Noble (West Ham United), L Cattermole (Wigan Athletic), T Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur) — J Milner (Aston Villa), G Agbonlahor (Aston Villa; sub: F Campbell, Tottenham Hotspur, 76), A Johnson (Middlesbrough). Substitutes not used: R Stearman (Wolverhampton Wanderers), T Heaton (Manchester United), J Cork (Southampton), R Bertrand (Chelsea), M Derbyshire (Blackburn Rovers), S Ebanks-Blake (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Referee: P Balaj (Romania) Attendance: 10,500.