Always Wolves
Always Wolves
LOUIE LEFEVRE BRINGS YOU THE LATEST NEWS FROM WOLVES ACADEMY
Wolves U21 vs Forest Green Rovers – Tuesday 16th September, The New Lawn (National League Cup)
It has been just over a month since Wolves U21s were in National League Cup action, opening their season with a 2-1 loss to Wealdstone. Meanwhile, Robbie Savage’s Forest Green Rovers saw off West Bromwich Albion in their competition opener, the former Leicester and Birmingham man delivering on his promise that this competition would see him utilise his younger players. That 3-1 win put ‘The Green’ top of Group B going into their clash with James Collins’ side. FGR are one of three teams who have made unbeaten starts in the National League, with six wins and three draws leaving them in second and pushing for promotion back to the EFL. Wolves U21s have been in similar red hot league form, though they’ve failed to win in all three cup competitions they’ve entered so far, suffering defeats in the EFL Trophy, National League Cup and Premier League International Cup. The two sides met in last year’s edition of the NLC having been put together in Group B. Fletcher Holman and Temple Ojinnaka got the goals that day as Wolves were victorious at The New Lawn. Both teams ultimately failed to advance to the knockout stages, something they would both be looking to change this time around.
The match took its time to get going, with both teams struggling to find a rhythm. The first real chance of the game was created by Ty Barnett, as he swung an inviting cross into the box that was met by Leo Lopes. His header hit the crossbar and the rebound from Caden Voice was tipped on to the post and subsequently smothered by Fiachra Pagel. Five minutes later the Irish goalkeeper was called into action again, this time getting down to his right to prevent Ethan Sutherland from breaking the deadlock following a fabulous solo run and cut inside. Harvey Bunker took aim with an ambitious half-volley from the edge of the box just before the 40th minute mark, but Arthur Nasta was equal to it. 19-year-old Jose Marquez was the one to finally break the deadlock, steering home his header after a Jayden Clarke corner.
Half-Time: Forest Green Rovers 1-0 Wolves U21s
Wolves nearly levelled the game two minutes into the second half when Wes Okoduwa found the run of Fletcher Holman. The striker blazed his effort over the bar despite his lethality in front of goal as of late. The hosts nearly got a second after scrambling from one end of the pitch to the other after Ty Barnett fired a free kick into the stands. The outside of the post denied Marquez his brace. With 52 minutes on the clock Wolves finally found the net. Mateus Mane controlled the ball with his chest and calmly struck it back across goal and into the bottom corner. He could have had a second shortly after – Holman played an inch-perfect through ball but Pagel was quick off his line to block the effort. Despite Wolves’ best efforts to pull ahead it was Savage’s side that grabbed the lead against the run of play. Isaac Moore slotting the ball under the oncoming Nasta. Harry Cardwell seemed to put the result beyond doubt making it 3-1 shortly after. With just three minutes left to play Dani Angel gave Wolves a lifeline, tapping in a low driven cross from Tom Edozie as the substitutes combined. Despite a final Old Gold push, Forest Green were able to see the game out and ensure they made it two wins from two in the National League Cup as Wolves fell to yet another cup defeat this season.
Full Time Forest Green Rovers 3-2 Wolves U21s
Next up on Saturday is Arsenal U21s away in what will be Wolves’ toughest test in the Premier League 2 so far this season. The match will take place at Boreham Wood as Collins’ young Wolves team look to continue their unbeaten start to the league. The week after sees Wolves enter the Premier League Cup with a trip to The Den to face Millwall U21s, desperate to change their current cup fortunes.
Forest Green XI: Pagel, Kengni (1), Kanu (1), Bunker, Knowles (1), McAllister (1), Moore (72), Clarke, Marquez, Conteh (61), Cardwell
Subs: Aldridge (61), Balagizi (1), Bamba (1), Bonnick (1), Hughes, Merrett (1), Walsh
Wolves XI: Nasta, Okoduwa, Ojinnaka (85), Pond (46), Voice, Sutherland, Rawlings, Barnett (79), Lopes (72), Mane, Holman (72)
Subs: Brooks, White (85), Olagunju, Bradbury (46), Edozie (72), Ji (79), Angel (72)
Wolves U21s Lose 3-2 at Forest Green Rovers