Wolves under-18s beat Liverpool at Compton Park as Caden Voice’s third-minute header was the difference between the sides.
After making such an impressive start to the match, James McPike’s team showed great defensive resilience and game management to secure the win and move up to fourth in the U18 Premier League table.
Following some early pressure, Wolves made a dream start as the first corner of the match resulted in the opening goal. Josh Esen’s corner from the left was powerfully headed home by Voice.
The visitors nearly equalised in spectacular fashion in the ninth minute when Francis Guimah’s thumping long-range strike was denied by the crossbar.
Liverpool enjoyed more possession in the first half as they looked to get back level. Trent Kane-Doherty drove into the box with some dancing feet but saw his shot blocked by Voice at the near post.
Michael Lafferty’s shot was then blocked but deflected kindly into the path of Kyle Kelly who forced James Storer into a save when he palmed the shot wide of the post.
On the stroke of half-time, Nathan Giblin’s cutback found Kane-Doherty on the edge of the box, but he fired well over the bar.
Half-time | Wolves 1-0 Liverpool
The second half began like the first, with Wolves coming out the blocks quickly, as a flurry of corners down the left-hand side were eventually cleared by the visitors.
Large periods of the second half were contested in the middle third with chances few and far between as Wolves pressed and defended well.
15 minutes from time, Tommy Pilling’s free-kick was met by Jayden Danna whose header drifted wide of the far post.
At the other end, some last-ditch defending prevented Wolves from sealing the win. Esen found himself in space at the back post when the ball dropped to him but his shot was saved, before Owen Farmer and Conor McLeod saw their follow-ups blocked.
The visitors came close to levelling the game in the 80th minute as Danna met a cutback from the left. With Storer momentarily out of the goal, Voice got back on the line to make the block.
The work ethic of the under-18s was summed up by Farmer making a crunching tackle on the halfway line, before driving with the ball into the box and seeing his shot blocked.
A fantastic save in stoppage time by Fabian Mrozer prevented substitute Finlay Ashworth from killing the game as his curling effort was tipped behind.
Wolves battled well and showed real maturity to manage the game in the latter stages to avoid a late onslaught and pick up a vital three points as the impressive start to the campaign continues.
Full-time | Wolves 1-0 Liverpool
REACTION
McPike praised the spirit his side showed following the win, and said the team did what was asked of them.
“I was really happy with the character they showed,” he said. “Before the game, we asked for some commitment to the game plan and togetherness so regardless of anything tactical we asked for that today and they showed that really well.”
On dealing with Liverpool’s high press
“There were definitely periods of the game where we were weathering a storm but you’re going to do that against good teams.
“Liverpool are a really strong academy with good players, so you have to expect periods of the game where you’re going to come under pressure.
“The boys stuck together and worked hard, they made their tackles when they needed to and showed real commitment to defend the goal.”
On the celebrations at the end
“It’s great it means loads to them, I want it to mean loads to them to win because that’s where you get that spirit of defending the goal and celebrating tackles - that’s what the game is.
“It’s second balls, tackles, competitiveness and in recent weeks we haven’t quite showed that level of togetherness, so I was more pleased with that than the result itself.
“That is the more important thing that will hold them in better stead later down the road.”
On goalkeeper James Storer
“He works very hard but had ten people in front of him who put their bodies on the line so that always helps.
“But when he is called upon, he makes important saves and that’s his job so I’m really happy for him and the team to keep a clean sheet, especially against a good side.”
On facing Liverpool again in the cup next week
“I don’t think we will see anything different in terms of their identity and intensity. They will be at it and will want to prove a point, so we have to be ready for that.
“They have quality, so we have to expect the same sort of pressure and dealing with that.
“We will look at a few things at what we could have done better today, but I expect another competitive game next week.”
NEXT FIVE
05/11 Liverpool (H) PL CUP
12/11 Leeds United (A)
19/11Nottingham Forest (H)
26/11Newcastle United (A)
03/12 Man City (A)
TEAMS
Wolves | Storer, Kaleta (Shahar 55), Mabete (Igbinoghene 85), Ojinnaka (Francis-Burrell 61), Voice, Carson, Esen (Plank 88), Harper, Farmer, McLeod, Reynolds (Ashworth 61).
Liverpool | Mrozer, Guimah, Giblin, Samuels, Hanes-Green, Pilling, Young, Laffey, Danna, Kelly (Roberts 61), Kane-Doherty.
By Fraser Bishop
