Report by Ryan Plant
Wolves Under-18s suffered a 4-0 defeat against Stoke City at the Clayton Wood Training Ground in the PLU18 North. James Jennings and Ethan Varian fired the hosts 2-0 in front inside 15 minutes, before the latter and substitute Joel Mvovi finished the scoring in the second half.
The one-sided scoreline was harsh on Wolves who saw two good chances for Kevin Berkoe and Luke Cundle thwarted to keep Darren Ryan’s side from coming back into the game.
The pressure continued in the opening minutes of the second half: Lewis Richards’ clearance was misjudged by Stoke’s goalkeeper, Nathan Broome, but Will Forrester managed to clear the ball away as it bobbled towards the empty net.
After Terry Taylor struck a fierce volley just wide and substitute Conor Carty saw his shot well saved by Broome, Varian sealed Stoke’s win with a controlled header past Jamie Pardington before Mvovi scored his side’s fourth with a delicate finish.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH:
Wolves ‘keeper Pardington kept Ryan’s side in the game at 2-0 with a stunning save from an Adam Porter free-kick, which was destined for the top corner - a spell of intense pressure from the visitors followed, but it was not to be their day.
QUOTES:
Manager Ryan was disappointed with his side’s showing. He said: “I am a bit deflated at the moment, because I didn’t see that result coming. “Going from the best performance of the season last week, against West Brom, to one like that against Stoke, who we knew would press us high and be aggressive, is disappointing.”
COMING UP:
Wolves travel to Middlesbrough in two weeks, looking to pick up their second win of the season before a tough run of fixtures.
NEXT FIVE:
06/10 - Middlesbrough (A)
20/10 - Liverpool (H)
27/10 - Manchester City (A)
03/11 - Manchester United (A)
24/11 - Blackburn Rovers (H)
TEAMS:
Stoke (4-5-1): Broome; Coates, Macari, Forrester (Akandji, 77’), Murphy; Jones (Knowles, 88’), Porter, Stanton, Malone, Jennings (Mvovi, 77’); Varian
Wolves (3-5-2): Pardington; Crabtree, Taylor, Richards; Thompson (Carty, 59’), Cundle, Parker, Perry, Berkoe; Townsend (Abbey, 79’), Forrester (O’Sullivan, 45’)
