Wolves 1 (Ballard-Matthews 69) Leeds 1 (Lane 51)
Honours were even at Compton Park on Saturday, as the points were shared in a 1-1 draw between Wolves and Leeds United in the U18 Premier League.
The visitors started on the front foot and were getting balls into the box early, but Wolves keeper Josh Gracey was diligent in dealing with the danger.
A short corner routine from Conor McLeod and Minkyu Ji then saw the Old Gold have their first chance of the game, with the latter delivering a nice cross into the box for Saheed Olagunju who saw his headed effort sail over the crossbar.
The contest would soon turn cagey as the majority of the first half was played in the middle of the park, with both sides struggling with their final ball.
Leeds looked to use their full-backs to break down the hosts backline to no avail, similarly Wolves’ wide men created some chances of their own which didn’t materialise into a goal.
Despite watertight defences from both teams in the opening 45, there was plenty more to be desired from both managers from their side’s performance in the final third as they went into the dressing room at half-time with the deadlock unbroken.
Half-time | Wolves 0-0 Leeds
It wouldn’t take long for improvements in forward areas from both outfits, though it was Leeds who would strike first as Freddie Lane’s shot from the edge of the area took a deflection towards goal, with the ball going over Gracey and into the back of the net to give the Whites the lead in the 51st minute.
However, it was the home team who showed sharpness in attack to swing momentum in their favour despite going a goal down.
McLeod looked for a leveler as he spearheaded a Wolves counter-attack, though nobody was on the end of his ball into the box as he made his final contribution before being taken off.
Second half substitute Reiss Bowen looked to make an instant impact off the bench, having a couple of chances shortly after coming on, though they were all dealt with comfortably by the Leeds shot-stopper.
Bowen would soon turn provider as he assisted Wolves’ equaliser after Mateus Mane wrestled the ball away from the defender before laying the ball off to Bowen in the wide area who put in a pinpoint cross to Emilio Ballard-Matthews whose looping header found the back of the net to put Richard Walker’s youngsters back on level terms with just 21 minutes to go.
Despite the hosts’ best efforts in looking for second, the encounter turned scrappy in the closing stages with both teams showing toughness in the tackle.
Both teams came close to nicking it in the 90th minute, as Leeds’ front post effort flashed across goal, while Wolves players argued for a penalty in the last moment of the game as they claimed a handball that ultimately wasn’t given.
Full-time | Wolves 1-1 Leeds
COMING UP
Wolves under-18s travel to Boldmere St Michaels in the Birmingham Senior Cup on Tuesday 19th November.
NEXT THREE
19/11 Boldmere St Michaels (A) Birmingham Senior Cup
23/11 Middlesborough (A) PL Cup
07/12 Manchester United (A)
TEAMS
Wolves | Gracey, Dayman, Osifo (Lochhead 58), White, Olagunju, Rawlings, Ballard-Matthews, O’Donnell, Mane, McLeod (Bowen 58), Ji (Marwa 78).
Subs not used | Arnold, Wilcox.
Leeds | Grainger, Firth (Hamilton 58), Bird, Pickles, Matykiewicz, Howard, Vincent, Whitehead, Render, Mensah (Pirie 83), Lane.
Subs not used | Woolfrey, Brown, Boast.
Report by Morgan Turner-Green
