Sam's The Man In Development Win
Wolves 1, Rushden & Diamonds 0
Sam Vokes's second half goal secured victory for a strong Wolves Development side against Rushden & Diamonds this afternoon - and the margin of the win could have been considerably wider.
Vokes made it four goals in his last four Development appearances when he converted George Friend's cross from close range on 68 minutes in the friendly played at
The tone for the game was set inside the first 10 minutes as Wolves created a host of early chances.
Kyel Reid sent over a couple of dangerous early crosses with Alex Melbourne firing over from the first and a Rushden defender clearing the second before Stephen Gleeson shot over shortly afterwards.
In the seventh minute a good run from Andy Keogh set up Sam Vokes whose effort also cleared the crossbar before Reid and Keogh were only marginally off target with decent attempts.
Any Rushden attacks in the early stages were repelled well by the Wolves defence, with Neill Collins in particularly producing three towering clearing headers in quick succession.
And Collins almost put Wolves in front at the other end in the 16th minute.
Gleeson had fed Keogh whose shot was saved by Dale Roberts and subsequently put out for a corner from which Collins's header was cleared off the line.
Wolves kept up the pressure and almost immediately Mark Little found himself in an advanced position to latch onto Keogh's low pass but his close range effort was blocked well by Roberts.
Rushden enjoyed some brief respite with an impressive run down the left by Chris Arthur and after Gleeson's 20-yard shot had been saved by Roberts, Spencer Weir-Daley shot just wide for the visitors.
Wolves picked up from where they left off after the interval with Keogh heading Quashie's 52nd minute header against the bar before Reid's low shot was saved by Roberts.
Then came the breakthrough, Reid feeding Friend whose cross was converted by Vokes to give Wolves the lead.
Michael Rankine and Sam Smith both shot past the post as Rushden tried to hit back before Reid and Vokes also threatened again for Wolves but there were no further goals as the Development side ran out winners.
TEAM: Wright, Little, Collins (Batth 62), Stearman (Connolly 62), Friend (Reckord (67), Melbourne, Gleeson, Quashie, Reid, Keogh (Hemmings 56), Vokes.
