Goals from Owen Farmer and Lee Harkin gave Wolves under-21s a well-fought victory against Reading in the Premier League Cup.
The old gold struck in each half at Aggborough and despite a late scare in added time, Ian Sharps’ side kicked off their Group H campaign with all three points.
In a largely quiet opening 45 in front of goal, it was Wolves who created the better openings. Farmer switched play with a delicious ball out to Harry Birtwistle who drove in field before being fouled right on the edge of the area. Lewis Richards and Oliver Tipton both stood over the ball, but it was the former who stepped up and found the wall in the way.
The first real sighting on goal came from Dylan Scicluna after Luke Matheson had done well to nick the ball back in the Reading half. The midfielder collected the ball before shifting it onto his right boot and fizzing an attempt back across and just wide of the post.
Wolves took the lead just shy of the half hour mark when a long goal kick was headed back down the pitch by Michael Agboola. Farmer tussled and won his battle with the defender which created space to poke the ball beyond Archie Walker in the Reading net with a cute finish.
Owen Farmer getting his rewards for hard work ⚽️#PL2 pic.twitter.com/HcYCVphdhL
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) November 11, 2022
Going in search of a second before the break, Harkin robbed the ball just inside the Reading half before advancing into the penalty area. The attacker did well to hold off his opponent, but was slightly rushed in his attempt and could only shoot low into Walker’s gloves.
Half-time | Wolves 1-0 Reading
Kam Kandola was introduced at the half-time interval as Agboola made way and the defender was in the thick of the action straight away, showing speed to come across and make an outstanding recovery challenge just as the Royals looked to get into a scoring position.
And Kandola was almost as effective at the other end as a short corner saw Richards collect the ball on the edge of the area before his deflected effort fell to the feet of Kandola who smashed a shot back off the crossbar.
Matheson and Birtwistle combined well on the right-hand side throughout the afternoon and it was that pairing who managed to create another opening for Farmer. Matheson scampered to keep the ball in play before finding Birtwistle who delivered a teasing cross into the box that Farmer could only glance wide after not making full contact with his head.
There was a carbon copy of the attack minutes later when all three were once again involved as Birtwistle crossed for Farmer and this time the striker came closer to his second, glancing inches wide of the far post.
With 19 minutes left to play, the home side got the second goal their performance as a whole deserved. Scicluna did well to win the ball back in his own half before Reading were exposed on the counter with Farmer releasing Harkin who had acres of space to run into. He showed excellent composure and balance to close in on goal and fire his shot low under the body of Walker to double the lead.
Lee Harkin adding a second! 👊#PLCup pic.twitter.com/SBt4bC5EJP
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) November 11, 2022
Wolves continued to press forward in search of a third but couldn’t quite find it and moments after Jackson Smith had made a sensational double save, the Royals grabbed one back deep into injury time. Substitute Jeremiah Okine-Peters squeezed the ball over the line despite the best attempts of Kandola to head it away. Fortunately, by that point, the visitors had ran out of time and the points went the way of the Wolves youngsters.
Full-time | Wolves 2-1 Reading
COMING UP
The old gold are back in Premier League Cup action on Monday afternoon, as Sunderland are the visitors to the New Bucks Head.
NEXT FIVE
- 14/11 Sunderland (H) PLC
- 19/11 Porto (H) PLIC
- 28/11 Sunderland (A) PLC
- 03/12 Cardiff City (A) PLC
- 07/12 Valencia (H) PLIC
TEAMS
Wolves | Smith, Matheson, Richards, Tipton, Agboola (Kandola 46), Pond, Birtwistle, Ojinnaka, Farmer (Esen 79), Scicluna (Hodnett 75), Harkin (Keto-Diyawa 80).
Unused subs |Amos.
Reading | Walker, Abdel-Salam (Okine-Peters 69), Abreta, Senga, Holzman, Clarke, Akande (Vickers 34), Osorio, Nyarko (Kanu 69), Azeez (Green 62), Camara.
Unused subs | Norcott.
