Wolves 3 (Ronan-pen 68, Enobakhare 74, 87)
West Bromwich Albion 1 (Fitzwater 59)
A Connor Ronan penalty and a brace from Bright Enobakhare saw Wolves Under 23s come from behind to beat old rivals West Bromwich Albion in the Black Country mini-derby at Molineux. It was a game largely dominated by Scott Sellars’s team.
Wolves looked the more threatening in the opening stages and Enobakhare almost made an early breakthrough as he worked a path into the Albion box before shooting narrowly over the bar.
Then it was the turn of Niall Ennis to try his luck with a snapshot from the 18-yard line that drew a diving save from Albion keeper Alex Palmer.
Both Enobakhare and Will Randall used their skills to weave a path into the Baggies box. Enobakhare displayed some exceptional close control and was about to pull the trigger when Bradley Sweeney booted the ball away.
Randall ran deep into the area before colliding with a defender and when the winger made inroads once more shortly afterwards, he was denied this time by Jack Fitzwater’s timely tackle.
Albion’s first attempt at goal came in the 36th minute – a deflected effort from Tyrell Robinson that was comfortably gathered by Harry Burgoyne.
Right on half-time Christian Herc sent a curling effort from 22-yards that was destined for the top corner until Palmer arched his body and tipped the ball over the bar.
The pace of Randall, Enobakhare and Ennis had created problems throughout for Albion but a one sided half ended without a goal.
Half-Time: Wolves 0 Albion 0
Ethan Ebanks-Landell, back after his long injury lay off, enjoyed a trouble free 45 minutes and was replaced by Connor Johnson at the start of the new half.
Wolves began where they had left off with a half clearance from a Randall cross not dropping for Enobakhare before being cleared.
Dan McKenna was booked for tripping Rekeem Harper as the visitors threw off some of their defensive shackles for their best attacking spell of the game although Burgoyne wasn’t really tested.
But the keeper was beaten in the 59th minute an Albion corner was flicked on and Fitzwater nodded home from virtually on the line.
A second home substitution followed with Donovan Wilson taking over from McKenna.
Wolves drew level in the 68th minute after Ronan had been tripped by Sweeney in the box. The youngster picked himself up and blasted home the resultant penalty.
Six minutes later and Wanderers were ahead. Ennis’s cross from the left took a deflection and Enobakhare raced in to blast the ball past Palmer (pictured).
Randall received warm applause as he left the field to be replaced by Aaron Collins who then had the opportunity to sew things up in the 86th minute when Herc sent him on a clear run to goal only for Palmer to save with his legs.
Collins had another chance when Ennis laid then ball back to him but this time the striker’s shot trickled wide.
But any late worries about conceding an equaliser were dispelled in the 87th minute as Enobakhare made no mistake in converting Herc’s low, driven cross.
Wolves: Burgoyne, Simpson, Deslandes, McKenna (Wilson 63), Ebanks-Landell (Johnson 45), Leak, Ronan, Herc, Ennis, Enobakhare, Randall (Collins 75).
Unused subs: Odoffin, Finnie.
Booking: McKenna (49 – foul).
Albion: Palmer, Sweeney, McCourt, Barbir (Smith 77), Fitzwater, O’Shea, Elbouzedi, Nabi, Wright, Harper, Robinson (Forss 83).
Unused subs: Pritchett, Rose, Wilding.
Referee: T. Nield.
Attendance: 604.
