Wolves 1 (Angel 90+2) Newcastle United 0
An injury time penalty by Dani Angel gave Wolves under-18s all three points over Newcastle United at Compton Park, as Richard Walker’s side got back to winning ways, moving up to fourth in the U18 Premier League table.
Angel’s penalty was the least a positive Wolves performance deserved with the home side unlucky to not find the opening goal before injury time.
Three separate red cards were brandished throughout the game, one for Wolves, two for Newcastle, leading to both teams having to adapt and change their tactical setups.
The Old Gold started the early portions of the game in a positive fashion and were pushing for an opener straight from kick off. Fabian Reynolds was causing the Newcastle defence problems with his pace and skill but his dangerous crosses were unlucky not to be converted.
Reynolds was once again the dangerman when he was picked out by a brilliant switch of play from the impressive Alvin Ayman, the winger cut inside from the right and his curling effort towards the top left corner was just over the bar.
Wolves were well on top after the first 20 minutes but a quick counter attack from the Magpies in their first real attack of the game led to the hosts being reduced to 10 men after Josh Gidaree was adjudged to have brought down Newcastle’s Matthew Taylor when running through on goal.
Newcastle’s best period of the game followed the dismissal as Wolves adapted to being a man down. Matheos Ferreira went closest for the away side as his volley from the centre of the box went just wide.
The teams were levelled up on the 30-minute mark when Newcastle’s Ferreira picked up his second yellow card of the game, bringing down Finn Ashworth who beat the Newcastle midfielder with a skilful turn on the halfway line.
Wolves almost instantly capitalised on the Newcastle red card when captain Hayden Carson was unlucky to see his effort hit the post following Reynolds’ delivery from a wide free-kick on the right wing.
Approaching half-time, Wolves continued to push for an opener and went close when Ayman’s ball into the box was dropped by the Newcastle keeper in the direction of Angel but the angle was too tight for the forward who could only find the side netting.
Half-time I Wolves 0-0 Newcastle United
The second half was largely more of the same with Wolves dominating possession and creating the majority of chances throughout. Angel had the first chance of the half when Reynolds won the ball back and slipped the striker through on goal but his left footed effort across goal was saved.
The hosts maintained the positive start to the second half when Conor McLeod had the next chance minutes later, as the midfielder drove forward and shot from 25 yards but Adam Harrison, the Newcastle keeper, made the save down to his left.
Some brilliant passing play through the midfield between Ashworth and McLeod then led to Angel’s next chance, the striker was once again played in behind by McLeod and with one defender to beat he cut inside his man but was unlucky to see his low effort just go the wrong side of the post.
The next chance came just after an hour when Caden Voice found himself on the left wing and his low cross found Ayman on the penalty spot but he was unlucky not to score as a combination of the Newcastle defenders and keeper blocked his shot.
A double change for both sides followed, and the Wolves substitute Luke Rawlings was quickly involved in the action when he intercepted a loose pass and drove to the edge of the area where he attempted to curl a shot into the bottom right corner but was denied by Harrison in the Newcastle goal.
With just 10 minutes remaining, the Old Gold began to push more and more for the goal their performance deserved. McLeod was unfortunate not to break the deadlock when he pounced on a poor clearance where he cut inside but couldn’t keep his effort down.
It began to look like the ball just wouldn’t go in for the hosts when just before the 90-minute mark Angel and substitute Fraser Harper combined on the counter attack, but Fraser’s left footed effort from just inside the box was kept out once again.
The deadlock was finally broken in the second minute of injury time when a ball into the box caused chaos and a goalline scramble before Newcastle’s Harry Powell blocked a goal bound effort with his hand, receiving a straight red as a result.
Angel then stepped up confidently and kept his composure, firing his penalty into the bottom right corner to give Wolves the victory on a sunny afternoon at Compton Park.
Full-time I Wolves 1-0 Newcastle United
LINE UPS
Wolves I Benjamin, Gidaree, Carson, Ayman (Rawlings 67), Voice, Igbinoghene, Reynolds, Ashworth, Angel, McLeod (Ballard-Matthews 90), Ji (Harper 67).
Subs not used I Bradbury, Hardy.
Newcastle I Harrison, Bloomer (Epia 69), Durrant, Johnson, Powell, Palmer, Wooster (Mills 88), Ferreira, Donaldson, O’Donovan, Taylor (Alabi 75).
Subs not used I Old, Jones.
NEXT THREE
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Report by Harrison Kewley
