Wolves 1 (Mane 77) Derby 2 (Agustien 37, Ekuba 80)
Wolves under-18s fell to their first U18 Premier League defeat of the season, as Derby County took all three points from Compton Park on Saturday.
Mateus Mane’s equaliser on 77 minutes brought the Old Gold level following a first half opener, but the Rams responded almost immediately through substitute Charles Ebuka who scored to ensure victory for the visitors.
It was a cagey contest in the opening minutes as both teams struggled to get a foothold in the game.
The away side looked to break the deadlock as Owen Eames tried a long-range effort after spotting Josh Gracey off his line, with the ball rolling just outside the left post.
However, the Rams would reap the rewards of their early efforts as a scramble saw the ball fall to Jerome Richards as he teed up Demiane Agustien who fired it into the bottom corner to put the away team into the lead.
Wolves looked to equalise before the break as Conor McLeod stood over a free-kick in a dangerous position, but his effort sailed just over the bar with a minute to go before the whistle.
Half-time | Wolves 0-1 Derby
Derby looked to snatch a second as a nice move down the right flank saw Justin Oguntolu cut inside, though it was a tame effort in the end.
Wolves found themselves on the attack a few minutes later as McLeod made a tidy pass down the left-hand side to Lennon Patterson, who dragged his shot wide before the offside flag was raised.
Another offside would see Derby denied this time, as Oguntolu had it in the back of the net for the visitors, but the linesman had already raised his flag.
It wasn’t long before the Old Gold were the ones with the ball in the net, as some dazzling dribbling from McLeod helped him hold off the opposition, before he played in Mane with a lovely through ball as the recent England under-18 debutant smashed it in the bottom corner to grab the hosts an equaliser, and his second of the season.
However, the scoreline wouldn’t remain intact for long as half-time substitute Ebuka’s near post effort went over the head of Gracey to restore the Rams’ lead with 10 minutes left on the clock.
The contest would turn end-to-end in the closing moments as both teams looked to get another, but no chances at either end proved fruitful as Derby held on for the points.
Full-time | Wolves 1-2 Derby
COMING UP
Wolves under-18s travel to face Newcastle next Saturday in U18 PL and are also in U17 Premier League Cup action at Leicester City on Tuesday evening.
NEXT THREE
21/09 Newcastle United (A)
05/10 Fulham (H) PL Cup
19/10 Nottingham Forest (A)
TEAMS
Wolves | Gracey, Nyakudya (Dayman 62), Gidaree, Olagunju, Osifo (Ruddock 75), Patterson (Colesby 88), Bradbury (Ballard-Matthews 62), Rawlings (Marwa 75), McLeod, Ji, Mane.
Derby | Price, K. Gordon, Banks, Osayande, I. Gordon, Agustien, Tola, Eames, Richards (Ebuka 46), Osong (Corry 72), Oguntolu.
Subs not used | Rees, Mintus, Canoville.
Report by Morgan Turner-Green
