JOHN Toshack's new dawn got underway at the Millennium Stadium last night, but it was a 38-year old goalkeeper who stole the plaudits from Tosh's young charges.

Proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he can still cut the mustard in international football, veteran stopper Paul Jones rolled back the years with a super performance to ensure some pride was maintained in last night's St David's Day clash.

Toshack has promised to give youth a chance ahead of Euro 2008 qualifying and he was as good as his word, handing a debut to 17-year old Lewin Nyatanga, the Derby County defender, now Wales' youngest cap.

Nyatanga partnered Gwent pair James Collins and Danny Gabbidon in a three-man defence that Toshack is likely to persist with, at least for the tricky opening European Championship qualifier in Prague against the Czech Republic in September.

Young Nyatanga's debut was not without its sticky moments and he did make a few mistakes, but the youngster was solid enough and showed enough potential to suggest that he could be a mainstay of the side for years to come.

In attack, it was a time to assess life in the absence of John Hartson, who has called time on his international career to concentrate on matters at Parkhead with Celtic.

Toshack chose to play Craig Bellamy as a lone striker ahead of link-man Ryan Giggs and playmaker Jason Koumas in Hartson's absence, favouring the option of guile and pace over strength and physical presence.

In truth this didn't really work, Bellamy forced to chase too many hopeful balls into the channels and it is imperative that Wales' midfielders adapt to life without the big target man as quickly as possible, with no natural successor forthcoming.

Wales never created clear-cut chances last night, though they did test Paraguay stopper Justo Villar and provided a decent contest for a side who will be facing England in the World Cup on June 9 and who beat Argentina during qualification for the tournament in Germany.

It was the visitors who fashioned the first clear opening last night, a delightful chipped pass from Roberto Acuna found Nelson Valdez, but his first time volley from just inside the area was smartly parried to safety by an alert Jones.

On 20 minutes Wales created a decent opening themselves, a wonderful pass with the outside of the boot from Everton's Simon Davies put Bellamy clear of the defence, but he seemed to hesitate as if waiting for an offside flag and in the end his tame curling effort was easy for Villar.

Three minutes later and Jones was again acknowledging the plaudits of his teammates after pulling off a stunning double save, first denying Valdez before jumping to his feet and blocking a thunderbolt from Denis Caniza with the rebound.

Wales continued to press forward, though on far too many occasions crosses were hit blindly into the penalty area, which will be food and drink to any international defence in the absence of Hartson.

When Wales did use the ball more intelligently they forced openings, Koumas and right wing-back Rob Edwards combined beautifully on 29 minutes, allowing Davies a shot from the edge of the area, but his effort got a slight deflection and missed the left-hand post by about a foot, with goalkeeper Villar rooted to the spot.

Wales began the second half brightly and defender Sam Ricketts and Koumas both missed the target before Bellamy again had a chance on 53 minutes.

This time it was Carl Fletcher who slipped the ball through to Bellamy who is at his best when running at defenders. The Blackburn striker beat his marker but shot tamely at Villar who gathered the ball with ease.

However, after this brief period of pressure it was again the visitors who started to dominate, a splendid jinking run from Cesar Ramirez beating Collins all ends up before his powerful shot was again saved by Jones, who tipped the ball around a post on 63 minutes.

From the subsequent corner the visitors again came close, Carlos Paredes striking a ferocious volley, but Jones brilliantly blocked the effort in a crowded six-yard box.

As is often the case in such games, several substitutions throughout the second half killed the contest as a spectacle, though youngster Lewis Price - who replaced Jones with 25 minutes remaining - made a superb late save to deny substitute Jose Cardoza, as Wales clung on for a draw they just about deserved.

It is still early days so far as the Toshack revolution is concerned and as first night performances go this was one that was only likely to attract mixed reviews, but after the utter embarrassment that was Wales' World Cup qualifying campaign, maybe we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.

Wales: Jones (Price 65), Edwards, Ricketts, Gabbidon, J Collins, Nyatanga, Fletcher (Robinson 74), Bellamy (Earnshaw 78), Koumas (Ledley 69), Davies (Crofts 76), Giggs (Cotterill 85). Substitutes (not used): Partridge, D Collins, Weston

Paraguay: Villar, D.Caceres, Toledo, Caniza, da Silva, Paredes, Ramirez (Cabanas 76), Barreto (Gavilan 57), dos Santos (Riveros 66), Acuna, Valdez (Cardoza 70). Substitutes (not used): C.Caceres, Nunez, Fretes, Manzur.

Attendance: 12,324. Referee: David McDonald (Scotland.