Wolves under-21s produced a superb mature display on the road at League Two Stockport County to secure their place in the knockout stages of the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday evening.
Lee Harkin gave James Collins’ side the lead inside the opening 20 minutes, before a fine solo run and finish from Tyler Roberts in the second half sent all three points the way of the away side at Edgeley Park.
There were a couple of early sightings for Stockport’s Paddy Madden who saw an effort held by Jackson Smith before the striker dragged one wide shortly after.
A positive opening for the hosts then saw a cross into the box make its way to Elliot Newby at the back post via a Kam Kandola flick on, as Smith pushed behind for a corner with the ball looking to be creeping its way inside the post.
However, Wolves grew into proceedings and became confident in possession from then on. Ollie Tipton struck an effort from distance that Ben Hincliffe couldn’t hold onto before the rebound was almost diverted into his own goal by a recovering defender.
On the 20-minute mark, the old gold took the lead. Tenacious play from Dexter Lembikisa saw him win the ball back and set Chem Campbell on his way down the left. His shot was deflected straight into the path of Harkin who showed great composure to round Hinchliffe and tap home from close range.
The Hatters came close to an immediate response as Madden found Connor Jennings in the centre who could only head wide of the target.
Two chances in quick succession so nearly resulted in a second for the visitors. Campbell met a Harkin cross at the back post but could only head down into the gloves of Hinchliffe before Harkin tried his own luck after riding the challenge and arrowing an attempt just wide of the right-hand post.
At the other end, a sliced clearance from Filozofe Mabete, who was otherwise faultless alongside Kandola, landed onto the head of Madden, but the ball was safely into the grateful hands of Smith.
Wolves came agonisingly close to doubling their lead a minute before the interval, as a free-kick was awarded 25 yards from goal. Campbell stepped up and struck a sublime curling effort which rattled back off the inside of the post and just out of reach of those following in.
Half-time | Stockport 0-1 Wolves
Dave Challinor’s men came out for the second half eyeing a goal that would bring them level. And they came close when Myles Hippolyte’s header from a corner was tipped over the top by the alert Smith in between the Wolves sticks.
Madden had the ball in the back of the net shortly before the hour, but the home cheers were cut short by referee Anthony Backhouse who had already blown for a foul on Harvey Griffiths.
With 19 minutes remaining on the clock, Wolves found a second goal their performance, and indeed the scorer of the goal, merited. A loose pass on the halfway line was snapped up by Roberts who raced towards goal – Campbell’s run on the left took the defender away and opened it up for Roberts to fire low into the bottom corner, giving Hinchliffe no chance.
It could have been three as the visitors looked to pounce on the counter attack, as Lembikisa released Campbell through the centre. Wolves had three on two in their favour as Campbell played in Harkin on the left whose shot was saved low by Hinchliffe before Campbell was beaten to the follow-up by Ash Palmer.
Campbell was in the thick of the action throughout the evening and so nearly produced a sensational third goal for the youngsters. The winger picked up the ball on the left-hand side before driving inside and riding a couple of challenges and aiming for the corner – fortunately for Stockport, goalkeeper Hinchliffe pulled off a fingertip save to divert the ball around the post.
Stockport searched for a way back into the game, with substitute Kyle Wootton’s overhead kick hitting the target, but comfortable enough for Smith. Moments later, the same man had the freedom of the penalty area to meet a cross and head towards goal. However, it was straight at Smith once again.
There was a nervy final 90 seconds for Wolves as Connor Jennings pulled one back deep into injury time, coolly rounding Smith after being played in by Wootton. Collins’ men had to defend one final corner to preserve the points which they did so duly to deservedly progress into the round of 32.
Full-time | Stockport 1-2 Wolves
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s are next in action on Friday 30th September, as FC Porto visit Molineux in the International Cup.
NEXT FIVE
- 30/09 Porto (H) IC
- 02/10 Man City (H)
- 05/10 Valencia (H) IC
- 08/10 Liverpool (A)
- 14/10 Tottenham (H)
TEAMS
Stockport | Hinchliffe, Kitching, Palmer, Evans, Madden, Rydel (Wootton 66), Newby, Hippolyte, Jennings, Johnson (Croasdale 67), Lewis (Brown 22).
Unused subs | Jones, Horsfall, Sarcevic, Barugh.
Wolves | Smith, Lembikisa, Mabete, Kandola, Tipton, Bueno, Griffiths, Hodnett (Matheson 60), Roberts, Harkin, Campbell.
Unused subs | Storer, Chiwome, Keto-Diyawa, Kaleta, Ojinnaka, Farmer.
