LOUIE LEFEVRE BRINGS YOU ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM WOLVES ACADEMY
Wolves U21 1-1 Brighton U21 – Saturday 31st August, AMEX performance centre.
Brighton XI: Fisher, Tasker, Simmonds, Turns, Samuels, Albarus (68), Mullins, Ifill, Duffus, Vickers (68), Howell
Subs: Hall, Knight (68), Flower (68), Penman, Bashir
Wolves XI: Benjamin, Okoduwa (45), Voice, Pond, Keto-Diyawa, Rawlings (61), Whittingham, Esen (83), Edozie (71), Farmer, Angel (71)
Subs: White (45), Mabete (83), Griffiths (61), Ashworth (71), Holman (71)
Wolves managed to get their first point of the season against Brighton in a 1-1 draw on the south coast. Brighton should have taken an early lead when a corner was met by Freddie Simmonds whose header went just wide of the goal. Wolves were clinical with their early chance at the other end when Dani Angel squared the ball to Josh Esen who made no mistake and scored the opener of the game. Wolves maintained their momentum and Esen nearly got their second but was thwarted by Hugo Fisher in the Brighton goal. Simmonds was once again causing problems for Wolves from set-pieces but failed to find the net in a similar position to his first chance. Tom Edozie would have the final chance of the half, capitalising on some sloppy seagull defending but unable to beat Fisher.
Wolves could have doubled their lead after the interval but Angel opted to try and square the ball once more however this time the Brighton keeper saw it coming. Brighton’s main outlet all game was headers and Charlie Tasker had the next opportunity but Lewys Benjamin denied the defender. Harvey Griffiths made his return to PL2 football as a substitute and immediately found a killer ball to Josh Esen who in turn played a clever back-heel to Angel. Fisher denied the striker with a remarkable save and Esen could only strike the follow-up over the bar. Super-sub Louis Flower got the leveller for Brighton with 20 minutes to go. Caylan Vickers got the better of Wolves sub Alfie White before his cross was diverted in by the former Chelsea man. The hosts pushed for all three points but Josh Duffus’ shot was well saved by Lewys Benjamin and Charlie Tasker’s high and wide curling effort proved to be the final opportunity of the game.
Wolves now find themselves 23rd of 26 in the PL2 standings and hopefully can find some league form with this result and continue to climb up the table – before they can do so though, they begin their Bristol Street Motors Trophy campaign. Wolves are in Northern Section Group B along with League 1 side Wrexham and League 2 outfits Salford and Port Vale. The two fourth tier sides met on the 20th August when Port Vale ran out 2-0 victors. The Valiants are Wolves’ opponents on Tuesday evening when Wolves visit Vale Park and Darren Moore’s side will be tough opposition for James Collins’ young Wolves team but will provide a good test against senior players.
Wolves U18s 3-2 Middlesbrough u18s – 31st August, The Brewery Field
Middlesbrough XI: Lloyd, Muwana, Wilson, Martin (72), Scott, Hamelberg (58), A. Palmer, B. Palmer (79), Coulson (79), Smith, Nino
Subs: Elliott, Greenup (58), Ibeh (79), James (79), Woodhouse (72)
Wolves XI: Gracey, Gidaree, Ruddock, Osifo, Patterson, Bradbury, Marwa, Nyakudya, McLeod (65), Ji (74), Mane
Subs: Kirbya, Colesby, Ballard-Matthews (65), Dayman (74)
Wolves have had an unbeaten start to the season with two games played while Middlesbrough suffered their first defeat in the PL Cup midweek. Both teams had early chances but failed to capitalise. Matheus Mane dragged his shot just wide for Wolves while Collins Nino’s effort was comfortably saved by Josh Gracey. Mane was fresh off his first England youth call-up and playing with confidence, firing another attempt just wide of the goal to the left this time. Anton Palmer’s shot was straight down the neck of Gracey just afterwards but Boro would break the deadlock on the half-hour mark. Tyler Smith would launch a fast break before Bailey Palmer buried his shot in the bottom right corner. Two more chances for Mane followed, one blocked and another saved by the Boro goalie. It looked like the hosts were going into half-time with a lead but Josh Gidaree struck right before the whistle, slamming a close-range drive into the back of the net.
The visitors were quick out the gates for the second half, Mane skied an early attempt and Minkyu Ji could only find the waiting hands of Lloyd. Just four minutes into the second 45 the Middlesbrough defence finally gave way. Conor McLeod already had two goals to his name from the opening game of the season and he kept his scoring record going with a scorching long-range effort. That’s now three in three in all competitions for Conor. Boro were not disheartened and hit back just seven minutes later. Frankie Coulson this time found space just inside the six-yard box and Gracey was once again beaten at his bottom right corner. Coulson could have had a brace soon after but this time sent his effort over the crossbar. Substitute Ballard-Matthews nearly had an immediate impact when he met a corner with his first touch but his header was just wide of the goal. Bailey Palmer nearly gave the home side the lead again but his shot was sent wide. Mane finally got the rewards for his constant pressure when he set up Minkyu Ji in the centre of the box who calmly slotted his shot into the bottom left of Lloyd’s net. The goalscorer was unfortunately forced off by injury shortly after. Mane got one more chance to grab a goal of his own but it wasn’t meant to be for the youngster as another attempt went over the bar. Tyler Smith had one more go at rescuing a point but Josh Gracey was poised to collect his header and ensure the away side took the spoils.
Wolves now sit 2nd in the U18 Premier League North table with 6 points and a game in hand on top of the league Derby County, only one point ahead. They’ve done remarkably well to take maximum points from their first two fixtures and can hopefully keep their good form up when they host Derby at Compton on Saturday. A few nicks and niggles in the group may force a shake-up with McLeod and Ji both being replaced with injuries but Wolves will no doubt have plenty of young talent waiting in the wings ready to be called upon. McLeod will be a big blow to the side if he is to miss any games while Matheus Mane keeps up his unreal form that has more than earned him that England U18 call-up. He’ll also be a big miss while he’s on international duty. Regardless of the personnel, it’ll be a massive fixture between first and second up next.
Other news:
Geordy Hardy leaves on loan.
Wolves have kept up a running trend of giving young keepers non-league loan spells to give them much welcome first team experience by sending George Hardy to Highgate United. Hardy made his debut on Saturday in the Midland Football League Premier fixture with Northwich Victoria. Hardy joins Jimmy Storer and Lucas Kirbya as the young keepers out on loans but it’s likely the agreement means that Hardy will be able to appear for Wolves where necessary.
Young Wolves stars on international duty.
A number of academy starlets have been selected for international duty this coming week. Dexter Lembikisa will link up with the Jamaica senior team for their nations league fixtures with Cuba and Honduras. Dex will reach twenty caps with his next appearance. Justin Hubner will also be on senior international duty as underdogs Indonesia face Saudi Arabia and Australia in World Cup qualifiers. A trio of academy players have also made the England youth squads. Wes Okoduwa in on U17 duty for three games in Germany. Matheus Mane has been selected for the U18 squad alongside new signing Saheed Olagunju. England U18s will be competing in the Lafarge international tournament. The four team competition also contains Portugal, Switzerland and hosts France. Wolves development coach Darius Vassell is also amongst the travelling staff.
