Salford 4 (Padovani 40 Stockton 59 Butt 77, 82 ) Wolves 2 (Holman 9 Lopes 90+2)
Wolves under-21s were beaten by Salford City at the Peninsula Stadium, bringing an end to their Vertu Trophy campaign.
Fletcher Holman gave Wolves the perfect start when he struck within the opening 10 minutes, before Bruno Padovani replied with an equaliser on the stroke of half-time.
Cole Stockton’s strike on the hour mark and Ruben Butt’s second-half brace proved decisive, putting the contest out of Wolves’ reach despite Leo Lopes’ late consolation, ultimately knocking them out of the competition.
With a handful of players absent on international duty, the lineup introduced six new names from Saturday’s defeat to Aston Villa in the PL2. Wolves entered the contest needing at least a point to earn any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Despite early pressure from the League Two outfit, Wolves snatched the lead after just nine minutes on the clock. Mateus Mane flicked on the initial ball into Holman’s path, who advanced through on goal and calmly slotted into the bottom corner.
Salford continued to test the young Wolves defence early on with shots from Fabio Borini and Padovani flying wayward. Butt then had the home side’s best sight of goal thus far, spurning his effort wide from inside the penalty area.
Alfie Brooks was tested for the time in the evening approaching the half hour mark, smartly saving Stockton’s bouncing effort from close-range.
Opportunities had been few and far between for Wolves since their opener, until Holman came close to his second not long before half-time. Holman peeled off the last line of defence and rushed goal-wards, before his effort - destined to ripple the net - was blocked superbly by Brandon Cooper.
Moments later, Salford punished the missed opportunity. Jorge Grant’s corner was cleared and only as far as Padovani, free on the edge of the penalty area, who struck a fierce strike through the crowd and past Brooks in net.
Half-Time | Salford 1-1 Wolves
Salford emerged the better side and threatened first out of the break. Butt set himself with his back to goal, shooting on the spin, but he saw his effort sweep past the wrong side of the post.
The hosts’ pressure proved decisive when it earnt them their first lead of the game approaching the hour mark. Padovani turned provider when he flashed a ball across goal, where Stockton was in the right place to turn the ball home.
Mane looked to respond instantly, closing in on goal not long after the restart, but his effort sailed over the upright.
Butt was a standout performer for Wolves’ opponents on the night, and rewarded himself with a goal 15 minutes from time. He picked up the ball and advanced into the penalty area, before bending an effort into Brooks’ far corner.
Salford put the three points beyond doubt five minutes later when Butt’s night improved further. He went through on goal and lifted his effort over Brooks, netting his second of the evening.
Leo Lopes marked his name on the scoresheet with a late consolation goal, after good work from Enso Gonzalez allowed the substitute to bear down on goal and finish at the near post.
Stoppage time expired and although Wolves put on a spirited display in the driving rain, their efforts failed to earn them the points to lift them out of the group stages.
Full-Time | Salford 4-2 Wolves
LINEUPS
Salford | Howard, Turton (Garbutt 46), Grant (Ayina 78), Stockton, Cooper, Borini (Curran-Nicholls 35), Austerfield (Carroll 64), Butt, Padovani, Lara, Longelo (Bairstow 63).
Unused Subs | Young, Henderson.
Wolves | Brooks, Okoduwa (Lopes 78), Pond, Voice, Olagunju, White (Edozie 65), Ashworth (Esen 46), Rawlings, Gonzalez, Mane, Holman (Angel 83).
Unused Subs | Arnold, Lochhead, Williams.
