Liverpool 2, Wolves 0

A goal in each half was enough for last year's finalists Liverpool to overcome a battling Wolves side in tonight's FA Youth Cup Third Round tie at Anfield.

After an even first half hour it was Liverpool winger Tom Ince, son of former Wolves captain Paul, who put the Reds in front and a goal shortly after the break from Hungarian Krisztian Adorjan condemned the Molineux youngsters to a cup exit.

But they battled on and went close to reducing the arrears late on in what would have been invaluable experience gained at Anfield.

It was never going to be the easiest draw for Wolves against a Liverpool team who have also won the competition twice in the last four years as well as reaching the 2008/09 final.

And this came after Wolves were drawn away to Arsenal in last year's Fourth Round, the Gunners eventually going on to lift the trophy by beating Liverpool in the final.

But the Under-18s were buoyed by a league victory against Liverpool at Compton in their most recent meeting, and certainly gave as good as they got in the early stages.

Watched by a crowd including Wolves boss Mick McCarthy and CEO Jez Moxey, the team looked dangerous from set pieces with striker James Spray particularly lively as they attacked the Kop.

Spray had a shot turned around the post by Deale Chamberlain on 19 minutes and then fired narrowly over with a powerful shot on 26.

Liverpool had also produced their chances, Ince twice shooting narrowly wide from the angle and John Flanagan drawing an excellent save from Daniel East in the 24^th minute.

But the goal that was to tip the balance in the home side's favour arrived on 35 minutes as Ince latched onto a fine crossfield ball and fired low into the bottom corner.

Liverpool almost extended their lead immediately after the break when Adorjan set up Ngoo to shoot wide and then the Hungarian himself fired narrowly over after a good run.

In the 55^th minute Wolves came close to an equaliser as Zeli Ismail's cross was flicked on to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing at the back post but the winger's shot after checking back inside was blocked by a Liverpool defender.

And within 60 seconds the Reds had extended their lead.

Adorjan embarked on another tricky run and managed to slot a side-footed shot through a crowd of players to leave Wolves with a mountain to climb.  

The visitors' cause wasn't helped when they lost Ismail to a knee injury just after the hour mark but to their credit they kept going and went close to pulling the goal back which could have pre-empted a grandstand finish.

Substitute Andre Landell fired just over from Mendez-Laing's cross on 77 minutes and then was somehow denied by Liverpool defender Flanagan after again getting on the end of the same winger's cross four minutes from time.

Ultimately however it wasn't to be, and East pulled off another good save to deny Jack Robinson in injury time.

WOLVES: East, Metcalf, Ebanks-Landell, Parsonage, Reckord, Mendez-Laing, Rooney (capt), Price, Ismail (Landell 64), Spray, McAlinden. Not used: McCone, Harris, Rodgers, Cranston.