North Queensland Fury 1 (Fowler-pen 67)
Wolves (Keogh 2, Craddock 74)
Just seven minutes after conceding a penalty that was converted by former Liverpool star, Robbie Fowler, Jody Craddock headed the winner as Wolves wound up their trip to Perth with a 2-1 victory over North Queensland Fury.
The match started in dramatic fashion with North Queensland almost taking the lead in ten seconds. Ronald Zubar rolled the ball back to Carl Ikeme whose clearance hit Daniel McBreen in the back and rebounded narrowly wide of the post.
But a minute and a half later Wolves were in front. George Friend's crossfield pass picked out Greg Halford and his cross-shot was only palmed down by Fury keeper Paul Henderson leaving Andy Keogh with the easiest of tasks in converting from two-yards out.
Keogh had a great chance for a second in the tenth minute after Friend had headed on Halford's long throw. But the striker scuffed his shot enabling Henderson to make an easy save.
It took a great block from Ikeme to prevent a Fury equaliser in the 14th minute. The keeper raced from his line to narrow the angle after Jason Spagnulo had run unchallenged into the right of the Wolves box.
Nenad Miliaš, who was displaying some neat skills in midfield, hit a terrific shot from 30-yards that drew a fine save from Henderson.
Shortly before the break a free-kick from the Serb just eluded the in-running Christophe Berra and then Keogh fired into the side netting after Halford had slipped a pass to him.
Half-Time: Fury 0 Wolves 1
Two Halford corners had the Fury defence at sixes and sevens in the opening minutes of the new half and from the second the ball was half cleared to Matt Jarvis, one of nine interval changes made by Wolves, and his low shot took two deflections before a defender managed to clear.
Stephen Ward ran half the length of the pitch playing a one-two with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake on the way before delivering a cross that flew across the face of goal.
On the hour mark Halford was too high with a 25-yard free-kick before Wayne Hennessey made a superb save from Chris Grossman's deflected shot.
Fowler, who had been on the field for ten minutes, failed to make proper connection with his first goal attempt but he made no mistake from the spot two minutes later sending Hennessey the wrong way after Craddock was adjudged to have fouled Jeremy Brockie.
Ebanks-Blake was the victim of a marginal offside decision as he beat Henderson with a low shot, and Scott Wilson's perfectly timed tackle robbed Matt Jarvis of a shooting opportunity as he ran into the area after taking a return pass from Sam Vokes.
Wolves moved back into the lead in the 74th minute as Craddock powered home a header following Andy Surman's corner.
And then Vokes found the back of the net with a header from Kevin Foley's cross but it was ruled out for pushing.
All the action was now focussed in and around the Fury's area and Dave Edwards was a whisker away from getting a head to Halford's cross. The ball ran through to Vokes but, at full stretch, he only succeeded in hitting the roof of the net.
Surman was shown the yellow card after tripping Phil Arnold from behind and then, with two minutes remaining, Ebanks-Blake headed against the near post after a fine cross from Halford.
Fury: Henderson, Middleby (Grossman 45), Tadrosse, Spagnulo (Robinson 55), Hingert, Busch, Agius (Brockie 64), McBreen (Fowler 55), Tambouras, Griffiths (Williams 55), Kohler (Arnold 75).
Unused subs: Wilson, Malik, Petterson.
Wolves: Ikeme (Hennessey 45), Zubar (Foley 45), Hill (Ward 45), Henry (Edwards 45), Berra (Stearman 45), Balde (Craddock 45), Halford, Milijaš (Surman 45), Keogh (Ebanks-Blake 45), Vokes, Friend (Jarvis 45).
Booking: Surman (80 - foul)
Referee: P. Green.
Attendance: 14,903.
* Wolves will be back in England on Friday - but the pre-season friendlies continue to come thick and fast. Tickets for the only home friendly with Real Valladolid on August 8 go on sale on Saturday. Click here for details.
