A Joe Hodge double inspired Wolves under-21s to a late comeback victory at Shrewsbury Town in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday evening.
Travis Hearnes had given the hosts the lead against the run of play, but the Wolves youngsters fought back to claim all three points, with Hodge equalising and then netting deep into added time.
The Shrews so nearly gifted an opener to the visitors early on as a long diagonal ball was headed inches wide of his own goal by Nana Owusu who had looked to nod back into the gloves of Harry Burgoyne.
From the resulting Dylan Scicluna corner, Nathan Fraser stole a march on his man to head narrowly past the near post.
And it was Fraser who had the first attempt on target 10 minutes later. A low cross into the area was kept alive by the frontman who spun and fired straight down the throat of Burgoyne.
Skipper Hodge was next to try his luck and the midfielder wasn’t far away as he pulled the trigger on a curling effort from distance that didn’t quite have the bend required.
Wolves were knocking on the door as Lee Harkin cut inside and struck one that clipped the outside of the far post, the closest James Collins’ side came to an opener in the first 45.
Fraser was taking up some clever positions in between the Shrewsbury defensive pairing with a couple of opportunities coming his way, and the latter resulting in a header that bounced wide.
Half-time | Shrewsbury Town 0-0 Wolves
Burgoyne’s gloves were tested early into the second period as the ball was cleared only as far as Hodge whose rasping effort was pushed around the post.
For all their possession, there were a lot less openings for Wolves as the half grew on with the home side snuffing out any potential danger.
Griffiths had time and space to pick a pass with Fraser making a dart to the left. However, the final ball was overhit and the chance had gone.
With just under 15 minutes of the game remaining, Salop took the lead against the run of play. Substitute Hearnes picked up the ball on the edge of the area and drilled the ball low and into the bottom left corner.
Wolves needed a response and Collins got just that three minutes later. Hodge was the man in the right place to level, meeting a cross into the box with his right boot as the ball squirmed under Burgoyne.
Palmi Arinjornsson had to be alert back at the other end as Charlie Caton’s free kick looked to be sneaking into the corner, but the Icelandic made sure by pushing around the post.
The visitors had a golden opportunity to snatch a late victory in the second minute of additional time, but Burgoyne made a superb double save to deny both Hodge and Fraser with the follow-up.
Then, deep into the five minutes added, the old gold kept pushing and found a goal to edge them in front and secure all three points. Once again it was Hodge who found space inside the area, before jinking inside and arrowing one into the top corner, giving Burgoyne no chance.
Full-time | Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Wolves
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s host Fulham at Aggborough on Monday evening – the first of back-to-back home fixtures in PL2.
NEXT FIVE
05/09 Fulham (H)
09/09 Everton (H)
17/09 Arsenal (A)
20/09 Stockport County (A) PJT
30/09 Porto (H) PLIC
TEAMS
Shrewsbury | Burgoyne, Bloxham, Caton, Craig, Barlow, Owusu, Bailey (Hearnes 67), Hutchings, Watts (Etienne 34), Antal (Knight 60), Collins (Kirby-Moore 59).
Unused subs | Bevan, Warner, Paternoster.
Wolves | Arinbjornsson, Hodge, Tipton, Fraser, Bueno (Roberts 46), Harkin (Chiwome 85), Griffiths, Hubner, Lembikisa (Keto-Diyawa 77), Birtwistle (Matheson 85), Scicluna (Hodnett 63).
Unused subs | Storer, Kandola.
