TST campaign over for Wolves

2nd June 2023

Wolves’ TST campaign ended in the narrowest of margins as the side dropped out of the competition at the group stages on goal difference.

After three fixtures, the Old Gold’s time in the inaugural US seven-a-side tournament in North Carolina, which is providing a $1 million prize pot for the eventual champions, came to an end on Friday afternoon.

Featuring a squad of players who’ve made a combined total of more than 720 appearances for the club, it was going to be an uphill struggle to make it out of the group stages for Wolves after a 6-3 loss in their opening group fixture.

A starting line-up of Harry Burgoyne, Richard Stearman, Scott Golbourne, Prince Oniangue, Adlene Guedioura, Bakary Sako and Leon Clarke faced US seven-a-side outfit Villita in the southern heat on Thursday lunchtime but despite Clarke getting Wolves level early on, the opposition secured all three points.

Leon levels just before the break 👊 pic.twitter.com/sOoQ87KBhR
— Wolves (@Wolves) June 1, 2023

Their efforts were made even more difficult during a second defeat on Thursday, this time to a Stephen Ireland-led Blade and Grass FC.

Similar to Wolves’ squad, Blade and Grass were also a team made up of former European names as well as upcoming local talent out of the US, and they took the lead through ex-Everton, Hull and Cardiff City man Baye Niasse, but Sako and academy graduate Jack Hodnett found the net to put Wolves in front.

However, a brace from Niasse saw Blade and Grass regain the lead going into Target Score Time, which meant the first team to score four would take the victory.

Wolves were able to get back on level terms to 3-3 with a powerful effort from Stearman as he pounced at the edge of the box, but former Stoke City midfielder Brek Shea broke Old Gold hearts when he secured the win for his team moments later.

WOW, @the_stears! pic.twitter.com/PRB0NjY5ez
— Wolves (@Wolves) June 1, 2023

Heading into their final group stage fixture on Friday lunchtime, Darren Ryan’s men knew a four-goal win over DMV Diplomats, coupled with a Blade and Grass win over Villita, would see his side make the knockout stages as runners-up.

The result went Wolves’ way in the other fixture of Group B, and after Sako had got his side off to the best of starts with a couple of cracking shots, the side in gold and black went into Target Score Time with a 4-1 lead.

Despite Hodnett showing individual skill and the finish to match it to secure the win for Wolves, DMV’s strike moments before meant the Old Gold would end up third in the table behind the Diplomats on goal difference.