U18s: Wolves v Stoke Report

Wolves U18 2-0 Stoke City U18 – Saturday 26^th October, Compton Park

Wolves XI: Gracey, Dayman, Olagunju, Voice, Osifo, Ballard-Matthews, Bradbury (60), O’Donnell, McLeod (75), Ji, Mane

Subs: Kibrya, Ruddock, Marwa (60), Wilcox, Bowen (75)

Stoke XI: Cooper, Agina, Togo, Otegbayo, Bardsley (84), Gartside-Kelly, Enabulele (78), Fearn (84), Nzau, Day, Bailey (71)

Subs: Brammer, Eyaife (84), McNally (71), Walker (78), Dauda (84)

Wolves U18s were looking to make it three league wins in a row when Stoke visited Compton; whilst the young Stoke side would’ve been hoping for a clean sheet, having conceded 11 goals in their last 4 games. Caden Voice featured at the back for Wolves despite playing 10 minutes for the U21s on Friday while Lucas Kibrya featured on the bench with his loan side Wolverhampton Casuals not having a game this weekend.

The league table suggested that Wolves should walk away with three points but Stoke had a chance to gain an early advantage from the penalty spot just four minutes in. Lewis Bailey already had four goals to his name in the U18 Premier League this season, including two last time out against Middlesbrough, but he slammed his penalty off the crossbar. Wolves U18 had beaten Stoke in 5 of the last 6 clashes between the two sides and the hosts settled into the game after the hectic start. Wolves finally found a way through in the 22^nd minute. Matheus Mane went one on one with former Arsenal youth goalkeeper Noah Cooper who made the initial save, only for Minkyu Ji to put away the rebound. The tricky winger could have had a second before the end of the half when Emilio Ballard-Matthews delivered a free kick that Ji diverted onto the post. 

Wolves came out strong for the second half with momentum in their favour, peppering Cooper’s goal with a flurry of chances. Promising Wales U18 international midfielder Mackenzie Bradbury had the pick of the bunch though, trying his luck from range but just putting his effort over the bar. Minkyu Ji’s last league goal before today came on the 31^st August against Middlesbrough and the forward had never scored an U18 PL brace before, until today. Reiss Bowen made his return from injury last week against Nottingham Forest with 13 minutes from the bench. This time round the ex-Fleetwood Town youngster was given 15 minutes and made the most of them. Bowen grabbed the assist just three minutes after being subbed on, sliding Ji through on goal who gratefully claimed his second goal of the match. 

Wolves now jump up to 4^th in the U18 Premier League North table with those valuable three points, with a game in hand on the teams above them. Richard Walker’s side could make it four consecutive league wins in a row next week when they visit the Academy of Light on Saturday to battle Sunderland. The black cats are one place below Wolves in the league but have lost their last three games.