Wolves 2 (Chirewa 31, Hesketh pen 48) Southampton 1 (Enibhatiomhan 65)
Goals from Tawanda Chirewa and Owen Hesketh were enough to see Wolves under-21s to PL2 victory against Southampton on Monday evening.
A dominant hour saw the Old Gold score twice and perhaps be disappointed not to further add to their advantage before Princewill Enibhatiomhan’s goal 25 minutes from time meant James Collins’ youngsters were forced to show their resolute side to see the game through at Aggborough.
The home side started on the front foot and were camped in the Southampton half for the opening five or so minutes. A driving run from Chirewa gave Ty Barnett, starting his first game of the season following injury, the chance to shoot at goal and he forced Josh Jeffries into a low save down to his right following a driven effort.
The Saints attacked with intent when their first opening of the game came on eight minutes and Will Merry may have felt he should’ve made more of a second opportunity when he blazed over after Joe Young had saved his initial attempt.
However, it was Wolves who continued to control proceedings and their high press forced more than one situations in front of goal.
Enso Gonzalez was denied following a towering header that was palmed away by Jeffries, before Matthew Whittingham won the ball back inside the Saints penalty area and Hesketh fired narrowly wide of the mark.
Wolves took a deserved lead just after the half hour mark and it was the impressive Chirewa who broke the deadlock. Gonzalez did superbly to weave his way inside the field and pick out Owen Farmer who in turn found the overlapping Chirewa, as the attacking midfielder snuck his effort in at the near post.
Gonzalez ➡️ Farmer ➡️ Chirewa ⚽️#PL2 pic.twitter.com/CX8qa34TEo
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) October 30, 2023
The Old Gold should have doubled their lead shortly after and came close on two separate occasions to doing so. Farmer was first to fire wide of the mark, before Chirewa was next to find space in behind but, like his teammate, struck the wrong side of the post.
Half-time | Wolves 1-0 Southampton
Wolves flew out of the traps and scored their second shortly after the restart. Farmer was brought down inside the box after skipping in between Sonnie Davis and Tyler Dibling before being fouled in the process. Hesketh stepped up and coolly sent substitute goalkeeper Josh McNamara the wrong way from 12 yards.
Composed from 12 yards 😎#PL2 pic.twitter.com/Ixj39nsh2z
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) October 30, 2023
It should have been three after Farmer intercepted a loose pass out from McNamara but the goalkeeper redeemed himself, saving from point-blank range as Farmer blasted an effort from just a few yards out.
Bruno Jordao was introduced for the second 45 and he came within inches of stamping his mark on the game. After winning the free-kick himself, the Portuguese man stepped up and fired a strong attempt just over the crossbar from 25 yards.
The Saints were afforded a way back into the game when Enibhatiomhan reduced the deficit to one as the striker won the ball high up off Whittingham and found the far corner via the inside of the post.
A comfortable outing soon turned into a final 25 minutes which saw Collins’ players show the resilience and grit require to keep hold of the points. And they did so in commendable fashion, limiting their visitors to little in front of goal and holding on to make it back-to-back PL2 victories.
Full-time | Wolves 2-1 Southampton
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s are back in action on Friday evening as they travel to face Nottingham Forest in PL2.
NEXT FIVE
- 03/11 Nottingham Forest (A)
- 08/11 Derby (A) EFL Trophy
- 12/11 Charlton Athletic (H) PL Cup
- 24/11 Sparta Prague (H) International Cup
- 29/11 OGC Nice (H) International Cup
TEAMS
Wolves | Young, Birtwistle, Keto-Diyawa, Whittingham (Rees 80), Kandola, Hubner, Gonzalez (Kaleta 86), Hesketh, Farmer (Chiwome 66), Barnett (Jordao 46), Chirewa.
Subs not used | Storer.
Southampton | Jeffries (McNamara 46), Davis (Abu 73), Armitage, Awe, Meghoma, Bragg, Amo-Ameyaw, Williams (Edwards 78), Ehibhatiomhan, Dibling, Merry (Vokins 55).
Subs not used | Lett.
