Wolves 2 (Hesketh27, Hubner 67) Fulham 3 (Godo 45+2, 90+6, McFarlane 86)
Wolves under-21s were undone by two late goals as Fulham dramatically took the points in an action-packed Premier League 2 opener at Aggborough on Friday evening.
James Collins’ side were twice in the lead through Owen Hesketh and Justin Hubner but were pegged back on both occasions by Martial Godo and substitute Callum McFarlane, before Godo netted deep into added time to snatch all three points for the Cottagers. Josh Esen saw red for the Old Gold late on, as he was shown a straight red card for a kick out at his opponent, with Wolves ending the game with 10.
The hosts had a sighting inside the opening 60 seconds, as Hesketh drove at the Fulham backline and struck towards the bottom corner, before seeing Alfie McNally stretch to tip the ball around the post.
Hayden Mullins’ men created their first opening when Oliver Sanderson found space in the final third and threaded a smart ball through to Chris Donnell. However, Palmi Arinbjornsson was quick to spot the danger and timed his manoeuvre perfectly as he slid to claim the ball ahead of the midfielder.
Godo then managed to dispossess Aaron Keto-Diyawa and closed in on goal, but curled wide of the far post.
At the other end, Keto-Diyawa was the provider as Wolves took the lead inside half an hour. The left-back’s cross into the danger zone was attacked by the unmarked Hesketh who arrived and nodded into the bottom corner for the opener.
The Cottagers looked for a way to get back on level terms and Terrell Works came close after a corner was cleared to the edge of the box, but the winger watched his half volley arrow just wide of the post.
And it was almost two for the Old Gold and Hesketh who was inches away from his second. Chem Campbell and Nathan Fraser combined before the latter flicked the ball round the corner for Hesketh who slid a left-footed effort past the far post.
Fulham were provided with the opportunity to level from the penalty spot in first half added time when Harry Birtwistle was robbed of possession and brought Godo down in the box. The man who won it stepped back up from 12 yards and calmy slotted into the bottom right corner and under the fingertips of Arinbjornsson.
Half-time | Wolves 1-1 Fulham
Fraser had a presentable opening early into the second 45 when Hesketh’s corner was right on the money and onto the head of the centre forward, but the youngster nodded just wide.
Wolves regained their lead on 67 minutes and this time, it was goal scorer Hesketh who turned provider. His in-swinging corner was met at the back post by Hubner whose header found the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar.
Esen replaced the tireless Owen Farmer with 20 minutes to play and the substitute so nearly made an immediate impact, but his swivel and shot was denied by the base of the post.
The away side kept fighting and despite being kept at bay for the majority, managed to conjure up a leveller for the second time on the night. Callum McFarlane’s introduction proved an inspired substitution as he got across his man at the near post to powerfully head home a cross into the net four minutes from the 90.
And deep into nine minutes of stoppage time, Fulham snatched a winner as a free-kick was nodded back across the box and to the feet of Godo who took one touch and poked into the back of the net for his second of the night.
Wolves played the final couple of minutes with 10 men as Esen was shown a straight red card for swiping a leg at Delano McCoy-Splatt, as the points went the way of the visitors.
Full-time | Wolves 2-3 Fulham
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s travel to St. George’s Park on Monday 21st August to take on Stoke City in their first away fixture of 2023/24.
NEXT FIVE
- 21/08 Stoke City (A)
- 25/08 Middlesbrough (A)
- 01/09 Crystal Palace (H)
- 12/09 Notts County (A) EFL Trophy
- 19/09 Norwich City (A) PL Cup
TEAMS
Wolves | Arinbjornsson, Birtwistle, Keto-Diyawa, Griffiths, Kandola, Hubner, Farmer (Esen 72), Jordao, Fraser (E. McLeod 90+1), Hesketh (Rees 83), Campbell.
Subs not used | Young, Ojinnaka.
Fulham | McNally, D’Auria-Henry, De Fougerolles, Araujo, Parkes, McCoy-Splatt, Donnell, Sekularac (Tanton 50), Works (Okkas 55), Sanderson (McFarlane 84), Godo.
Subs not used | Conway, Olyott.
