A youthful Wolves under-21s squad impressed in the Birmingham Senior Cup, dispatching of Rugby Town to reach the third round of the competition on Wednesday evening.
A trio of goals at Butlin Road saw skipper for the night Lee Harkin open the scoring in the first half, before Dylan Scicluna and Aaron Keto-Diyawa netted in the second 45 to secure safe passage into the final 16.
James Collins’ side were dominant throughout and rose to the occasion against their senior opponents. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing as goalkeeper Jimmy Storer saved Ryan Seal’s 53rd minute penalty at a crucial stage of the tie, with the scoreline at 1-0.
Collins was able to hand under-21 debuts to youngsters Makenzie Bradbury, Brayden Clarke, Fabian Reynolds and Caden Voice. 15-year-old Bradbury started in the heart of the midfield, while the latter trio all came off the bench on a special night for the old gold.
Wolves were much the better side throughout the evening and took the lead after just 17 minutes. The stand-out Harkin was rewarded after being released down the left-hand side by Keto-Diyawa, before cutting inside and seeing his effort deflect past Matt Hill via a Loyiso Recci touch.
Chances came and went as Josh Esen tested the gloves of Hill, before Dongda He and Scicluna fired attempts wide of the mark. Scicluna’s opening came when the Australian met a teasing Jack Hodnett cross on the half-volley, only to see it whistle just past the post.
The visitors sensed a second goal might be on its way before the half-time interval but, despite hitting the target with a shot through a number of bodies, Michael Agboola was unable to find a corner as Hill made a comfortable save.
Half-time | Rugby Town 0-1 Wolves
Wolves were denied early into the second period, with Harkin winning a footrace with Hill following a ball over the top, but the eventual shot was cleared off the line by a Rugby defender who did well to get back.
The hosts were awarded a penalty moments after when half-time substitute Fil Mabete was judged to have fouled his man inside the area. Seal stepped up from 12 yards, but found Storer in his way to deny him after the goalkeeper guessed right to save down to his left with a strong palm.
And that moment was the key turning point, as the old gold doubled their advantage just before the hour mark. A sensational move was started by Keto-Diyawa who spotted the run of Harkin with a ball over the top, before the winger expertly controlled on the run before having the awareness to find He. The striker had Esen to his right, and the under-18s man then saw Scicluna making a dart into the area and picked him out as the midfielder took two touches – one to control and one to finish with composure past Hill.
Reynolds came off the bench inside the last half an hour and instantly looked a threat, seeing a shot saved at the near post with a good opening to make it three. Shortly after, Hodnett’s exquisite ball with the outside of his boot found the same man who was again denied by Hill.
Wolves made it three with five minutes left on the clock as the energetic Keto-Diyawa found himself in behind following a clever pass, before clinically finishing to wrap-up the second round tie.
Full-time | Rugby Town 0-3 Wolves
COMING UP
Collins' men are back in Premier League Cup action on Saturday, with a trip to face Cardiff City.
NEXT FIVE
- 03/12 Cardiff City (A) PLC
- 07/12 Valencia (H) PLIC
- 10/12 Cardiff City (H) PLC
- 14/12 Wolfsburg (H) PLIC
- 19/12 Reading (A) PLC
TEAMS
Rugby Town | Hill, English, Ahenkorah, Thomas, Recci (A. Sahota 75), Summerfield (Basford 63), Seal (Calloway 63), Marsden (Episcopo 46), Semahimbo, Evans, R. Sahota.
Wolves | Storer, Kaleta (Clarke 54), Keto-Diyawa, Bradbury (Voice 72), Agboola (Mabete 46), Kandola, Scicluna, Hodnett, He (Reynolds 63), Harkin, Esen.
Unused subs | Amos.
