Wolves under-21s were narrowly beaten at the death, despite a battling performance away at Crystal Palace.
The youngsters were moments away from claiming a hard-fought point having played the majority of the second half with 10 men following Nathan Fraser’s red card, but a late Victor Akinwale goal condemned them to defeat.
It was the dream start for James Collins’ team, who found themselves a goal up within the opening three minutes. Hugo Bueno’s corner was planted right onto the head of Harvey Griffiths who had stolen a march on his man to nod down and past Eagles goalkeeper Owen Goodman.
The visitors looked to capitalise on their early lead by going in search of a second. Harry Birtwistle skipped past his man before entering the box and going down over the challenge – the referee took one glance and waved away the claims.
And on the 15-minute mark, Crystal Palace found a leveller. There was chaos inside the area as John Kymani Gordon looked to be bundled over, before a goal line clearance could only be diverted into the path of Rob Street who made no mistake from a few yards out.
Lee McLoughlin came close to regaining the lead for Wolves as he curled a low effort towards the bottom right-hand corner that forced Goodman to stretch out his gloves and push around the post.
Dylan Scicluna was next to try his luck as the midfielder connected well with Bueno’s cross to hit a half-volley into the ground, only to be denied by Goodman whose reflexes were exemplary.
Half-time | Crystal Palace 1-1 Wolves
Wolves were dealt a huge blow just eight minutes into the second period when Fraser was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Kofi Balmer.
Despite being a man light, Collins’ side continued to push forward and particularly through Bueno out on the left who saw an effort blocked following a driving run.
Soon after, Palace had Josh Addae to thank for being in the right place at the right time to knee the ball off the line after an in-swinging Bueno free-kick had taken a deflection on its way through.
The old gold went close once again through Joe Hodge with the midfielder navigating his way inside and curling an attempt just high and wide of the top right corner.
Back at the other end, Jack Wells-Morrison and Killan Phillips combined from a corner with the latter arriving late in the box to power a firm header over the bar.
Tyler Roberts entered the fray with little under 20 minutes to play and almost produced a moment of magic to send the 10 men back into the lead. After being released down the right wing, Roberts took time to shift the ball inside and onto his left boot where he unleashed a fizzing strike that had everything apart from pinpoint accuracy, as the ball cannoned back off the inside of the far post.
For all their good work, there was a late and bitter pill for Wolves to swallow as Palace grabbed a winner in the third minute of additional time. A period of pressure paid off for the home side as substitute Akinwale prodded into the net from a few yards out to claim the victory.
Deep into the sixth minute of added time, Roberts almost levelled but was thwarted by the fingertips of Goodman who preserved the points.
Full-time | Crystal Palace 2-1 Wolves
COMING UP
The under-21s are back in action on Tuesday evening with a trip to face Shrewsbury Town in Group C of the Papa John’s Trophy.
NEXT FIVE
30/08 Shrewsbury Town (A) PJT
05/09 Fulham (H)
09/09 Everton (H)
17/09 Arsenal (A)
20/09 Stockport County (A) PJT
TEAMS
Crystal Palace | Goodman, Addae, Balmer, Grehan, Watson (Akinwale 85), Ozoh (Mooney 66), Wells-Morrison, Phillips, Omilabu, Street (Ola-Ameobi 79), Gordon.
Unused subs | Siddik, Shala.
Wolves | Arinbjornsson, Lembikisa, Bueno (Hubner 86), Griffiths, Marques, Tipton, Birtwistle (Matheson 80), Hodge, Fraser, Scicluna, McLaughlin (Roberts 72).
Unused subs | Kandola, Hodnett.
