Wolves 1(Odoffin)
West Ham United 1 (Ford 12)
After laying siege to the West Ham goal, the Molineux youngsters took a fully merited point from West Ham thanks to a late goal from recent signing Hakeem Odoffin who cancelled out Sam Ford’s opener for the Hammers
Wolves won an early free-kick 20-yards out after Moses Makasi had tripped Will Randall. Daniel Armstrong curled a low kick around the wall but keeper Sam Howes dived to save.
West Ham moved into a 12th minute lead after Ford raced clear and held off two challenges before burying a low angled shot past Jon Flatt and into the far corner.
Ford wasn’t far off a second with an overhead kick before Armstrong almost conjured up an equaliser when, despite stumbling, he managed to get in a shot that glanced off the face of the far post before going behind.
Ford should have scored again in the 20th minute when Djair Parfitt-Williams laid a perfect ball into his path. But with the goal at his mercy the striker dwelt too long on the ball allowing Ashley Carter to boot clear.
Randall then worked his way to the by-line and pulled the ball back into the heart of the area. Donovan Wilson charged in but knocked over a defender in his efforts to reach the ball conceding a foul in the process.
On the half-hour mark, Alfie Lewis hit a fierce drive straight at Flatt after the home defence had failed to clear its lines.
A fine piece of work from Odoffin saw the defender charge deep into the West Ham half before finding Randall with an inch perfect pass. The winger worked a shooting position for himself but he fired over the bar.
Wolves were pressing hard and after Jim Kellermann had lifted a long-range effort over the bar, Regan Upton headed over following an Armstrong corner and West Ham held on to their advantage as the game reached its halfway stage.
Half-Time: Wolves 0 West Ham 1
Three minutes after the resumption, Upton headed narrowly wide following an Armstrong corner and it was Armstrong’s determination that saw him keep his feet and deliver a low cross into the six-yard box that sparked a tremendous scramble before the Hammers defence eventually managed to clear.
The pattern of play continued to show Wanderers as the attacking force but they almost got caught on the break as Makasi played Ford in forcing Flatt into a last ditch save.
Connor Ronan replaced Wilson in the 61st minute before an Armstrong free-kick from wide on the right was punched clear by Howes.
Vashon Neufville was booked for tripping Kellermann just outside the West Ham box. Armstrong’s free-kick was cleared but when the Scot took a corner moments later, Upton was inches wide with a far post header.
Aaron Collins replaced Randall in the 73rd minute and within seconds he was racing down the right flank and delivering a great cross that was eventually cleared by an overworked visiting defence.
Collins then took the ball from just inside the West Ham half to the edge of the box but his shot bounced clear off a defender.
The goal that Wolves so richly deserved finally arrived in the 83rd minute and it was all thanks to the two full-backs with Odoffin forcing home Ben O’Hanlon’s cross from close in.
In the dying minutes Flatt saved well from substitute Jahmal Hector-Ingram to preserve a fully merited point for his side.
Wolves: Flatt, Odoffin, O’Hanlon (Hayden 86), Rainey, Upton, Carter (capt), Armstrong, Kellermann, Wilson (Ronan 61) , Enobakhare, Randall (Collins 73).
Unused subs: Weeks, Simpson.
Hammers: Howes, Pike, Neufville, Dobson, Henry (Rice 45), Oxford (capt), Diangana, Makasi, Ford (Hector-Ingram 72), Lewis (Sylvestre 60), Parfitt-Williams.
Unused subs: Brown, Kemp.
Booking: Neufville (70 – foul).
Referee: M. D’Aguilar.
Attendance: 145.
