Notts County 1 (Hubner OG 90+5) Wolves 2 (Hesketh 17, Fraser 55)
Wolves under-21s opened up their EFL Trophy campaign with a fine away performance, as a goal in each half from Owen Hesketh and Nathan Fraser saw off League Two Notts County.
Hesketh swept home the opener, after good play from Matt Whittingham and Owen Farmer, before ten minutes after the interval Fraser lashed into the top corner to fire Wolves to victory, despite Justin Hubner's injury time own goal, which proved just a consolation for the hosts.
Each year, the EFL Trophy provides some of the toughest tests for Wolves’ youngsters, and that was the case once again at Meadow Lane, where James Collins’ side held off their League Two opponents in the early stages, before striking with their first opportunity.
The Old Gold were rewarded for their strong press, as new arrival Whittingham nicked the ball from County in a dangerous area and exchanged passes with Farmer, before allowing the striker to square for Hesketh, who was lurking at the back post and duly fired home at the near post.
It was a theme of the opening stages, and when Marvin Kaleta won a battle inside the County half soon after, Harry Birtwistle’s cross was met by Hesketh, but his clip over Sam Slocombe dropped into the side netting.
As for the Magpies, they twice tested Joe Young in the Wolves goal, but on both occasions the Old Gold stopper produced, particularly impressively from Jim O’Brien’s header, while the goalkeeper was relieved to see Luther Munakandafa fire wide with an open goal, after Hubner had given the ball away in a dangerous area.
Half-time | Notts County 0-1 Wolves
Just ten minutes after the restart and Wolves had the two-goal lead they craved. Aaron Keto-Diyawa fed Farmer, who spread the ball to Fraser, and before deciding if to fire across goal or pick out a teammate, the big centre forward rifled in at the near top corner.
From that moment, Wolves showed their professionalism and were rarely threatened by County, with Keto-Diyawa’s block from Adam Chicksen’s drive typical of the commitment on show from the men in all Old Gold. However, in the closing stages, after Young had made an impressive save, Hubner lashed into the roof of his own net.
It mattered now, however, and the victory sets things up nicely for Wolves on their EFL Trophy journey, with trips to Lincoln City and Derby County coming up during the autumn months, and they do so with three points in the bag.
Full-time | Notts County 1-2 Wolves
COMING UP
Next Tuesday Wolves under-21s begin their PL Cup campaign with a trip to Norwich City. Their group also consists of Charlton Athletic and AFC Bournemouth.
NEXT FIVE
- 19/09 Norwich City (A) PL Cup
- 24/09 Liverpool (A)
- 02/10 Leeds United (H)
- 06/10 Bournemouth (H)
- 10/10 Lincoln City (A) EFL Trophy
TEAMS
Notts County | Slocombe, Rawlinson (Cameron 45), O’Brien, Austin (Crowley 45), Baldwin (Brindley 45), Bostock (Palmer 45), Adebayo (Randall 66), Munakandafa, Chicksen, Morias, Macari.
Unused subs | Stone, Langstaff.
Wolves | Young, Birtwistle, Kaleta, Kandola, Hubner, Keto-Diyawa, Jordao, Hesketh (Ojinnaka 90), Whittingham (McLeod 62), Farmer (Ashworth 88), Fraser (Esen 62).
Unused subs | Arinbjornsson, Igbinoghene, Harper.
