Nathan Fraser’s third goal in four matches was not enough to secure Wolves under-18s victory on the road at Liverpool as the Reds scored either side of half-time to take the points.
With two teams full of confidence and quality going head-to-head at the Liverpool Academy, the driving rain had an impact on the result, with the opening two goals ahead of the break owing to defensive errors, although they were finishes that were clinically dispatched.
Both teams had opportunities to open the scoring, with Wolves coming close through Tyler Roberts, but having been played clean in on goal, the winger was denied by Liverpool goalkeeper Harvey Davies.
The hosts took the lead moments later, as a mix-up in defence saw Reds forward Oakley Cannonier sneak in and hit a first-time finish inside of the post, for his 27th goal of the season.
However, Wolves were soon level when the visitors picked up the ball on the edge of the box, which set up Fraser to fire a low drive past Davies and into the bottom corner of the net.
The rain eased in the second-half and Liverpool almost capitalised, but old gold keeper Jimmy Storer – who was among the first-team squad which travelled to Tottenham Hotspur the previous weekend – stood up well to the on target efforts.
Both teams looked for the goal which would put them ahead, and it almost fell to Fraser once again, with the Tettenhall-born forward getting strike at goal, but this time his effort was saved by the Red stopper.
But it was the hosts who claimed the points on the hour mark, as a Liverpool corner was spilled by Storer under pressure and Lee Jonas was on hand to turn the ball into the back of the net.
COMING UP
Wolves’ next U18 Premier League North game is a home tie against Sunderland at the Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground, however, the under-18s have an FA Youth Cup quarter-final coming up on Saturday, as Wolves face Brighton & Hove Albion at Molineux.
NEXT FIVE
26/02 Brighton & Hove Albion (H) FAYC
03/03 Sunderland (H)
12/03 Newcastle United (A)
19/03 Blackburn Rovers (H)
29/03 Nottingham Forest (A)
TEAMS
Liverpool: Davies, Miles, Scanlon, Jonas, Chambers, Mabaya, McConnell, Pilling, Frauendorf, Clark, Cannonier (Roberts, 66).
Unused subs: Hewitson, Lucky, Davidson, Figueroa.
Wolves: Storer, Lembikisa, Mabete, Tipton (Esen 79), Kandola, Keto-Diyawa, Griffiths, Rees (Francis-Burrell 63), Roberts, Farmer (Barnett 63), Fraser.
Unused Subs: Amos, Ojinnaka.
