A wonder goal from Niall Ennis saw Wolves under-23s beat Manchester United in front of more than 2,500 supporters at Molineux on Friday evening.
Having led at the break through Benny Ashley-Seal’s sliding finish, the hosts were pegged back by United when Mason Greenwood equalised, and looked to be heading for a draw.
However, with six minutes left on the clock captain Ennis found the top corner in stunning fashion to move Wolves back top of the Premier League 2 Division 2, above their visitors.
It was the hosts who looked the livelier from the off and Ashley-Seal turned over Ryan Giles’ cross on the stretch in a move which proved to be the dress rehearsal for the opening goal. When Pedro Goncalves found a yard of the space, he fed Giles to drill in a low cross which was converted by Ashley-Seal.
Wolves tails were up and Ennis shot at Matej Kovar soon after from a corner, before Max Kilman headed wide from another set piece. Elliot Watt curled a free-kick over the United bar while Oskar Buur drove an effort into the side netting in a first half Wolves enjoyed the better of.
While the opening period began to Wolves, it took United just a few minutes of the second to equalise as Greenwood was threaded through and finished powerfully across Andres Sondergaard.
United may have improved after the goal but Rob Edwards’ side remained a threat and Elliot Watt drilled a low effort just past Kovar’s post. The hosts were rewarded for their continued positive play soon after as a piece of individual brilliance from Ennis won them the game, as the skipper found the top corner from distance.
QUOTES
Rob Edwards: "The first goal was great for one reason and the second was unbelievable for another. To come away with the win was really pleasing for the lads and gives them a lot of belief.
"The next step for the players is playing in stadiums in front of people. For their next development, wherever it may be, so it was great.
"We stayed strong, stood tall, got the ball down and went again at 1-1 - then what a way to win it. It shows the lads can deliver on a big stage."
COMING UP
Wolves are back in action next Friday as Rob Edwards’ side travel to Stoke City, before a cup double header against Lincoln City and Swansea City, also away from home.
NEXT FIVE
Stoke City (A) | 2nd November
Lincoln City (A – CTT) | 6th November
Swansea City (A – PLC) | 10th November
Aston Villa (H) | 26th November
Oxford United (A – PLC) | 3rd December
TEAMS
Wolves | Sondergaard, Buur, Iorfa, Kilman, John, Giles, Heredia (Samuels 76), Watt, Ashley-Seal (Alves 90), Goncalves, Ennis.
Subs | Molberg, Beasley, Csoka.
Man Utd | Kovar, Tanner, O’Connor, Poole, Williams, Garner, Chong, Hamilton, Greenwood, Gomes, Bohui.
Subs | Warren, Woolston, Whelan, Barlow, Buffonge.
Attendance | 2,741
