NATIONAL LEAGUE CUP: ALTRINCHAM 2 WOLVES 1

Altrincham vs Wolves U21s – Tuesday 29^th January, J. Davidson Stadium – National League Cup

Altrincham XI: Randle, Banks (45), Cooper, Kosylo, Jones, Amaluzor (45), Crawford (19), Newby (19), Pasiek, German, Nuttall (19)

Subs: Fallon, Baines, Griffiths (19), Weaver (19), Reddin (45), Golden (45), Bickerstaff (19)

Wolves XI: Gracey, Okoduwa (83), Mabete, Pond, Voice, Hubner, Ashworth (75), Bradbury (75), Sutherland, Lopes (83), Fraser (69)

Subs: Amos, Olagunju, Whittingham (75), Rawlings (75), Edozie (83), Reynolds (83), Angel (69)

There were 8 changes to the Wolves U21 side that beat Manchester City, with the more experienced players making way for a much younger Wolves XI. Darlaston 1874 loanee Stan Amos took his place amongst the substitutes alongside U18 defender Saheed Olagunju. 

The pitch at the J. Davidson Stadium was not in great condition for Tuesday night’s match under the lights but one man who would have been delighted to make it on was Regan Griffiths. The former Crewe Alexandra man signed from Marine on a free just hours before and made his debut as part of a trio of changes in the 20^th minute. The game was slow to get going but saw a quick flurry of action on the half hour mark. Firstly, Lucas Weaver found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat but placed his effort wide of the post to let Wolves off with just a warning. Two minutes later Nathan Fraser managed to gain possession in the Altrincham penalty area and tee up Ethan Sutherland to strike the ball into the bottom corner and show he is more than up to the task as a winger. Another two minutes later Wolves’ fortunes changed for the worse. Alfie Pond turned unknowingly into danger and was pickpocketed by Bickerstaff. Pond dragged his man to the ground and was rightfully dismissed. An unlikely lapse in concentration from the U21s skipper. Altrincham made the most of the man advantage with the lions share of possession but failed to break through the Wolves backline going into the break.

Altrincham made the last of their substitutes at the break. Weaver had a chance to put right his miss from the first half but spurned an almost identical chance. Déjà vu for the Alty man as another effort went the wrong side of the post. In the 67^th minute Wolves finally conceded the inevitable goal. It was all Altrincham and some slight fortune from the referee allowed them back into the game. Initially indicating for a goal kick, the referee changed his decision, and the corner eventually resulted in a left-footed shot from Kacper Pasiek that found the bottom corner. James Collins was booked for his protests following the goal. Not long after Lucas Weaver finally got his goal. Josh Gracey spilled a long-range effort from Regan Griffiths straight to Weaver, who headed the hosts ahead. Wolves introduced a host of attackers from the bench but barely managed to retain possession. Altrincham should have had more goals and would have if not for some Josh Gracey heroics. The goalie came out on top of another 1-on-1 against Weaver who should have walked off with the match ball. Substitute Kahrel Reddin then had one of the misses of the season, somehow curling his effort away from the empty goal at the back post.

Wolves were never going to find an equalizer, but Gracey was on top form to limit the damage done to his 10-man team. An incredible save in the 90^th minute as he dove down at the feet of Reddin at point blank range and somehow got enough on the ball to send it over the bar. A 2-1 loss for Wolves in the end but it is quickly becoming a star-making season for Gracey in between the sticks, who did more than enough to make up for the earlier spill.

The U21s play Sunderland twice next week in two different competitions. The two clash at Aggborough on Monday night before they meet at the Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground on Friday. Wolves’ last National League Cup game will be away to Rochdale on the 11^th February. Tickets for that game are available on Rochdale’s website. February will also see an U21 Black Country Derby to top off a stacked month for James Collins’ side with just a few more days to finalise loan moves for some of Wolves’ academy starlets.