Wolves under-18s scored four past Salford City under-18s as they progress through to the next round of the FA Youth Cup with a 4-1 win at Molineux.
Wolves endured an evenly-fought battle with Salford in the opening 10 minutes of the game. Neither side were able to create many scoring opportunities with both midfields fighting well.
The first opportunity came to Steve Davis’ side and they took it well with Nathan Fraser opening up the scores. After an in-swinging corner from the left was headed out to Fil Mabete on the right, the defender dinked in a delicate ball for Fraser to head low beating the goal keeper to his left.
Oliver Tipton had a chance to double the lead from the spot after Fraser was tripped up inside the area. The Wolves captain for the day stepped up and placed his penalty wide right of the goal.
The home side continued to put pressure on Salford and reaped the rewards. Harry Birtwistle opened up some space down the right-hand side after beating his marker for pace. The wing-back drilled a low ball across the box. Owen Farmer was first to meet the ball, tapping in from close.
The Youth Alliance League side looked to get themselves back into the game with Finlay Bartram driving from deep before cutting in from the left and hitting a long-ranged effort. His shot looped over Palmi Arinbjornsson and rattled off the crossbar and out for a corner.
Wolves finished the first half by adding a third to the score line. Tyler Roberts found more success down the right. He slid low to keep in a loose ball which was heading out for a goal kick. After beating his marker to the ball, he recovered the pass and cut inside before coolly slotting past Bradley Rose in goal.
Salford started the second half more positively and grabbed a goal back with 55 minutes on the clock. Half time substitution, Ben Finley, found himself in space after a quick counter attack and slotted past Arinbjornsson giving the visitors a goal back.
Roberts was soon to grab his second of the match with help from his striking counterpart. Fraser won the ball on the halfway line and drove into space in front of him. With the defence catching up to him he slid the ball across to Roberts who poked home Wolves’ fourth of the night.
Davis’ side finished the game off with another crossbar scare. This time Harvey Walsh headed on a deep cross towards goal but smashed the crossbar, finishing the game 4-1 to Wolves.
NEXT FIVE
18/12 Stoke City (A)
08/01 Liverpool (H)
15/01 Middlesbrough (A)
22/01 Nottingham Forest (A)
27/01 Middlesbrough (H)
TEAMS
Wolves: Arinbjornsson, Birtwistle, Mabete, Tipton, Hubner, Lembikisa, Roberts, Griffiths (Keto-Diyawa 80), Fraser (Esen 80), Rees (Francis-Burrell 73), Farmer.
Unused subs: Amos, Reynolds.
Salford: Rose, Kirnon, Collins (Cooper 73), Lara (Walsh 45), Berry, Ando (Finley 45), Bartram, Humbles, Henderson, Pedro, Lescott.
Unused subs: Padrao, Priestnall.
By Tom Alston
