Wolves 1 (Voice 84) Blackburn Rovers 1 (Stritch 19)
Wolves under-18s kicked off their 2023/24 campaign with a 1-1 draw at Compton Park against Blackburn Rovers, thanks to a late equaliser from Caden Voice.
The defender headed home from a free-kick, as Wolves showed good spirit to come back from a goal down and earn a share of the spoils in Richard Walker’s first competitive game in charge.
It was the visitors who settled into the match quicker, enjoying some early possession, and subsequently created their first chance in the sixth minute. Nathan Dlamini jinked his way into the box with some neat footwork, but his low driven shot was comfortably gathered by Lewys Benjamin.
At the other end, Fabian Reynolds latched onto a defence-splitting through ball, however the forward was crowded out by blue and white shirts, so the chance averted him in what was Wolves’ first opening.
In the 19th minute, Blackburn took the lead when Zack Stritch dispossessed Voice in the backline and went through on goal, before cooly slotting away to break the deadlock.
Two minutes, Benjamin made a stunning save to prevent the visitors doubling their lead. A free-kick was floated in at the back post, before being headed across goal, which Adam Doherty met with a powerful header himself forcing a remarkable save from close range.
However, the response from Walker’s side would have pleased the head coach as Wolves grew into the game in the latter stages of the first half. Finn Ashworth played a precise pass to feed Reynolds, who drove into the box before being denied by the legs of Nicolas Michalski.
It was the same pair involved again shortly after as a low cross from the right was cut out and cleared into the path of Ashworth, who laid the ball back to Reynolds on the edge of the box who saw his side footed effort tipped over the bar for a corner.
With that, the visitors went into the break with a narrow advantage with it all to play for in the second half.
Half-time | Wolves 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
A couple of changes were made at half-time, as Minkyu Ji and Conor McLeod came on, to replace Mason Rees and Fabian Salmon as Walker looked to utilise his strong squad and throw on some fresh legs.
That being said, it was Rovers who had the first chance of the second period, when Benjamin made a good save from a shot, but could only palm into the path of Junior Nsangou who could not react quick enough and diverted his header wide.
Wolves first chance of the second 45 came when substitute McLeod had a go from the edge of the area, but saw his shot tipped over the bar in what was an encouraging response.
With lots of subs being made, neither team could assert their dominance for large periods of the second half in what was an evenly contested and hard-fought encounter.
In the 73rd minute, Brandon Powell latched onto a clever backheel but was thwarted by Benjamin in goal for the Old Gold, who had had an impressive performance.
The home side kept pushing however, and in the 84th minute, got their reward. Makenzie Bradbury floated an inviting delivery into the box, which Voice attacked with great determination and saw his bullet header go into the back of the net.
The last few minutes were fairly quiet, with both teams pushing for a winner but cancelling each other. Wolves did survive a late scare however, when a free-kick was awarded in a dangerous position, but fired way over.
With that, the match ended all square as Wolves began the 2023/24 U18 Premier League campaign with a hard fought point in a tough test.
Full-time | Wolves 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
REACTION
Speaking after the match, head coach Walker admitted his side were far from at their best, so was delighted to come away with a point after his team showed character and resilience to come from a goal behind.
On a share of the spoils
“I thought (the game) was frantic, it was hustle and bustle, the usual sort of under 18’s enthusiasm which maybe spilt over into lacking a bit of control.
“I thought we were well short of our best, I don’t think we played anywhere near what the boys are capable of.
“However, we have come out with a hard-earned point and came back from a one goal deficit so plenty of positives in terms of the outcome. However, there lots of parts of the process which we are a bit disappointed with and so are the players because they have high standards.
“We need to pass the ball much better; the players have said that themselves, but we showed real character and resilience in a tough match where, admittedly, we were nowhere what we are capable of but came back to get a point against a decent side.”
On the goal conceded and playing out from the back
“If you want to follow a certain process, and a certain style of play, getting done in situations like that can really enforce the message we are doing it, because, there is risk v reward to a lot of aspects to play.
“What I have seen in training and pre-season tells me the rewards will be far greater than the risks. We are capable of doing it, the goal is more of an individual mistake, than necessarily a poor perspective of how we are trying to play.
“It happens at every level but it will give us more control if we get it right, entering the final third.”
On Voice’s late equaliser
“It was a really good ball from Makenzie Bradbury, lovely cross and Caden’s rose really well - it’s a fantastic header.
“I am pleased for Caden because he was frustrated with some of the things that happened in the game but, he kept at it, kept going and attacked it so well. We challenged him about being a goal-scoring centre half and he’s off the mark with one for the season and to be fair looks a real threat from set plays.”
NEXT FIVE
Everton (A) 19/08
Derby County (A) 16/09
Middlesbrough (H) 23/09
Nottingham Forest (A) 30/09
Leeds United (H) 07/10
TEAMS
Wolves | Benjamin, Diomande (Okoduwa 67), Carson, Bradbury, Voice, Igbinoghene, Reynolds (Clarke 88), Rees (McLeod 46) , Salmon (Ji 46) , Ashworth, Plank (Edozie 73).
Blackburn Rovers | Michalski, Murphy-Worrall, Powell, Litherland (Houghton 65), Doherty, Finneran, Bell, Stritch, Nsangou (Boggan 81), Shaw (Shorrocks 65), Dlamini (Mullarkey Matthews 73).
Report by Fraser Bishop
