Wolves under-21s saw their three-game unbeaten run come to an end at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon.
Odel Offiah and Mark O’Mahony scored inside the opening 28 minutes, before Ben Jackson headed a third in the second, which put the game beyond the reach of the old gold, although substitute Harry Birtwistle did pull one back in added time.
Wolves had the better of the early exchanges without troubling the Brighton backline too much. A short corner was played to Owen Hesketh who delivered a teasing cross into the box which was dropped by goalkeeper Tom McGill, but he reacted well at the second attempt to save at the feet of Owen Farmer.
The home side took the lead slightly against the run of play on 22 minutes and it was a move started and finished by Offiah. The full-back manoeuvred his way into the centre of the park before picking out Luca Barrington on the right, who returned the pass to find Offiah there to slot home from inside the area.
And Barrington was the provider for Brighton’s second goal which arrived just six minutes later. This time, it was O’Mahony on the end of a low cross from the right who had the simple task of finding the net past Palmi Arinbjornsson.
Those two goals in quick succession put the visitors on the back-foot, but it didn’t stop them from looking for an immediate response. McGill was right behind a Tyler Roberts drive which was heading on target after making its way through a number of bodies while, at the other end, Arinbjornsson produced a stunning reflex save to deny Andrew Moran at his near post.
40' | #BHA 2-0 #WOL
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) March 5, 2023
Five minutes until the interval and we trail by two. However, we've responded well to conceding and Tyler Roberts has seen a low drive well held onto by Tom McGill.#PL2 pic.twitter.com/WsKsZnQiys
Half-time | Brighton 2-0 Wolves
Wolves were much more threatening early on in the second half, coming out with intent and purpose to their play.
Roberts connected well with a Hesketh cross to get above his marker at the back post, but his header dropped just wide of the mark.
Joe Hodge and substitute Lee Harkin both made crucial blocks, before the hosts eventually added a third. Jackson rose highest in the middle to head into the net from a Barrington corner, although Wolves were protesting that Jack Hinshelwood was standing in an offside position and obstructing the view of Arinbjornsson.
That goal all but secured the three points, but Wolves kept plugging away and a neat one-two between Ty Barnett and Roberts resulted in the latter skewing just wide at the near post.
Substitute Birtwistle did pull one back in the first minute of stoppage time, pouncing from close range after a Hodge run and cross into the box, but the PL2 points went the way of the Seagulls.
Birtwistle buries from close range!#PL2 pic.twitter.com/H6XeqGpILi
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) March 5, 2023
Full-time | Brighton 3-1 Wolves
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s have a short break before their next PL2 outing, which comes on Monday 20th March at home to West Ham United.
NEXT FIVE
- 20/03 West Ham (H)
- 31/03 Everton (A)
- 10/04 Everton (H)
- 14/04 Fulham (A)
- 24/04 Crystal Palace (H)
TEAMS
Brighton | McGill, Offiah, Samuels, Hinchy, Jackson, Colwill (Nilsson 46), Barrington (Everitt 83), Hinshelwood, O’Mahony, Moran (Mullins 64), Baker-Boaitey (Duffus 64).
Subs not used | Talley.
Wolves | Arinbjornsson, Lembikisa, Hubner, Hodge, Marques (Birtwistle 70), Tipton, Roberts, Hesketh, Fraser, Barnett, Farmer (Harkin 70).
Subs not used | Young, Kandola, Ojinnaka.
