5 min read
5th Sep 2022
Wolves under-18s began their Premier League Cup campaign with a 3-1 loss at home to Charlton Athletic.
A second-half penalty from Owen Farmer couldn’t resurrect a comeback as Pat Casey added a third for the visitors with a drilled effort 15 minutes from time.
An absent Steve Davis left assistant coach, James McPike, in charge of a youthful team at Compton Park.
A physical Charlton outfit proved a difficult opponent to dispossess as the away side played patiently with possession and pressed quickly off the ball.
However, an early chance for Wolves surfaced as Fabian Reynolds won a free kick just outside the penalty area. A dangerously whipped cross from Josh Esen evaded the defence before Farmer tapped in from close range. The linesman was quick to stop celebrations as he flagged for an offside.
Jimmy Storer was called into action on the half-hour mark. A dangerous corner was headed out by the Wolves defence but only to Keenan Gough who struck a wicked volley from the edge of the box. Storer did well to parry the effort, reaching to the top right corner of his goal and getting a strong palm to the ball.
Before the half time whistle came, the visitors mounted a flurry of attacks and with that followed two quickfire goals. After finding previous success from bursting into the space down the left-hand side of the penalty area, Ralfi Hand tried his luck once more, but this time arrowed a shot across goal. His effort rebounded off the far post and into the back of the net.
Henry Rylah would soon follow suit and double Charlton’s lead. This time on the right, Rylah tapped in from close range after a switch of play from inside the area left the number seven with space to shoot past Storer.
Half Time | Wolves 0-2 Charlton Athletic
Wolves started the second half positively and within five minutes of the whistle being blown, found a route back into the game via the penalty spot.
Marvin Kaleta received the ball on the right wing and breezed his way into the area before spinning his marker. Just before the full back could get his shot away, he was brought down, and the referee pointed to the spot. Farmer stepped up and rifled home from 12 yards to the right of goalkeeper Henry Molyneux.
McPike’s side pushed for an equaliser as Farmer dispossessed the Charlton defence, drove into the area and struck a low effort into the gloves of Molyneux.
Searching for an equaliser left the hosts vulnerable and Casey made sure to take advantage of it. Collecting the ball on the left and driving across the field, he found himself to the right of the goal. He fired a shot back across and with a crowd of bodies in front of him, Storer saw the effort late and was beaten, restoring the two-goal lead for the visitors.
Wolves mounted a final attack and came close to pulling a late goal back in the final seconds of the game. Another beautifully whipped cross by Esen from a set piece found the head of an onrushing Fil Mabete. He wrestled his way into the box before nodding the ball onto the near post narrowly missing the chance to decrease the deficit.
Full Time | Wolves 1-3 Charlton Athletic
REACTION
McPike praised Wolves’ opponents and admitted his side were too open during play.
“Credit to them [Charlton] I thought they played really well,” He said. “They worked really hard, they were very comfortable on the ball, and I thought they did really well. In terms of us, I think at times we were too open, and I think they [Charlton] exploited that.”
On the message to the three half-time substitutes
“Just try to help us out in the final third. We changed the shape a bit, tried to get a few more players on their back line and try and just work the spaces around the sides and in behind their outside centre backs. It worked, we got the penalty and got back into the game at 2-1.
“If the first goal really early on in the first half counts, then it’s a different game. We had the one in the second half that was given as offside. There were a couple of things that could have gone our way but didn’t. But ultimately credit to Charlton.”
On the step up to under-18 level for the younger players
“It’s challenging and I think that’s what we’re about now. We’re about challenging the younger players, exposing them to these challenges and making sure they reflect on it and learn from it. Hopefully they’re ready and they learn from it compared to when they joined us.”
On Owen Farmer’s performance
“Strikers thrive off confidence and creating chances and scoring goals. I’m delighted for him, he works so hard in the week always doing extra, working his socks off for the team, for the players and for himself so really happy for him.”
COMING UP
Next week the old gold travel up north to face Leeds United and will look to continue their unbeaten league start. McPike gave his thoughts on the meeting: “They’re always really competitive, really at it and they work similar to today in terms of they work really hard. We’ll look at today, reflect on it and prepare next week for that challenge.”
NEXT FIVE
10/09 Leeds (A)
17/09 Everton (H)
01/10 Derby County (A)
15/10 Middlesborough (H)
22/10 Manchester United (A)
TEAMS
Wolves | Storer, Kaleta (McLeod 17), Mabete, Scicluna, Carson, Igbinoghene (Voice 75), Esen, Francis-Burrell (Harper 46), Farmer, Ashworth (Diomande 46), Reynolds (Plank 46)
Charlton | Molyneux, Okwumo, Bower, Kedwell, Gough, Asiimwe, Rylah, Hand (Hunter 73), Casey, Huke, Enslin
Unused subs: Mbick, Abnett, Myers
