Nottingham Forest 1 (Brown 79) Wolves 1 (Harper 66)
Wolves under-18s were made to settle for a U18 Premier League point in a share of the spoils at Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.
Fraser Harper gave Richard Walker’s side a deserved lead on 66 minutes following a dominant second half display, but Connor Brown levelled 11 minutes from time with an unfortunate deflected equaliser off a Jimmy Storer clearance.
Wolves started the game strongly and were close to taking the lead inside the opening two minutes, but Caden Voice’s header from Makenzie Bradbury’s corner was cleared off the line.
The home side then grew into the game and Storer was forced into a smart save down low, as Isaac Davies met a Theo Robinson cross from the left.
From the resulting corner, Theo Flanagan’s effort from the edge of the area was deflected just wide by a Wolves body.
Brown was then released down the right-hand channel and beat the offside trap with only Storer to shoot beyond, but he struck narrowly wide with the outside of his boot.
At the other end, Tom Edozie did well to win the ball back and feed Leon Chiwome, only for the striker to see Keehan Willows hold onto his shot across goal.
Half-time | Nottingham Forest 0-0 Wolves
The visitors returned for the second half with much more intent about their play and the renewed confidence almost paid dividends when Bradbury worked it out to Wes Okoduwa on the right. The full-back cut inside his man and looked to curl one with his left boot, but watched the ball drift just over the top.
A double change was made on the hour mark with Fabian Salmon and Conor McLeod both entering the action in place of Chiwome and Edozie. And McLeod impressed following his introduction, only being denied by the offside flag after slotting home from a ball over the top.
The Old Gold were finally rewarded with little under 25 minutes left to play and it was Harper who struck once again for the youngsters, capitalising on a loose pass out from goalkeeper Willows to slot home from inside the area.
Wolves came close to doubling their advantage when McLeod lofted a ball over the top which caused problems for the Forest defence, as Fabian Reynolds snuck in. The winger did well to battle and win the high ball, before finding himself with an opportunity to strike at goal, but Willows stood firm to save.
The hosts levelled completely against the run of play and in unfortunate circumstances on 79 minutes when the ball was played back to goalkeeper Storer – he allowed the ball to roll across his body and looked to clear away from danger, but his clearance inadvertently struck Brown and bounced into an empty net.
However, Wolves remained focused and continued to play the type of football that had given them the advantage earlier in the half. Okoduwa came close to restoring the advantage as he met a Reynolds cross, but he was denied at the back post by Willows.
The Forest stopper was in action from the resulting corner as Voice met Bradbury’s delivery, but Walker’s side again found Willows in the way.
Wolves ended the game with 10 after Okoduwa was shown a second yellow card as the clock hit 90, but the visitors held firm with a man light to preserve their point.
Full-time | Nottingham Forest 1-1 Wolves
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TEAMS
Nottingham Forest | Willows, Sinclair, Robinson, Gbopo, Modupe (Abbey 71), Whitehall, Bradshaw (Lister 42), Flanagan (Adueni 83), Brown, Davies (Daly 71), Anisjko.
Subs not used | Avery.
Wolves | Storer, Okoduwa, Clarke, Bradbury, Voice, Carson (Igbinoghene 65), Edozie (C. McLeod 60), Rawlings, Chiwome (Salmon 60), Harper, Reynolds (Ayman 90+1).
Subs not used | Hardy.
