U21 report | Wolves 2-4 Celtic B

Wolves 2 (Farmer 40, Barnett 69) Celtic 4 (Vata 3, 10, Letsosa 26, Robinson 65)

Wolves under-21s were unable to end their Premier League International Cup campaign on a high, as Celtic took the points at Aggborough on Tuesday evening.

The visitors stormed into a two-goal lead inside the opening 10 minutes through Rocco Vata’s brace, before Tsoanelo Letsosa and Scott Robinson added to the tally. The old gold threatened a response on two separate occasions when Owen Farmer and substitute Ty Barnett found the back of the net, while Oliver Tipton also had a penalty saved shortly before the half-time interval.

It took just three minutes for the Scottish outfit to break the deadlock and it came via the lively Vata who fired past Louie Moulden, having robbed Kam Kandola of the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box.

The same man was presented with the opportunity to add a second from the spot shortly after, when Dylan Scicluna fouled his opponent in the box. Vata stepped up and coolly dispatched from 12 yards, sending Moulden the wrong way.

Wolves needed a response of some sort to gee them up, and they began to have more joy when Owen Hesketh found pockets of space in between the Celtic defence and midfield. Farmer had the speed to go past his man with ease but by the time he had crossed the ball, Nathan Fraser had pulled away for the cut-back and the ball flashed across the face.

Vata almost completed a 21-minute hat-trick when he rattled the underside of the bar, before Wolves broke up the other end and forced Josh Clarke into a save from the boot of Hesketh.

Celtic made it three on 26 minutes when a corner was only cleared back out to the taker and Letsosa rose highest in the centre to meet a cross and loop the ball over Moulden with an impressive header.

Moulden produced a fine save when he tipped Mackenzie Carse’s strike onto the woodwork, before Scicluna made Clarke work at the other end with an instinctive left-footed half-volley from the edge that needed to be dealt with.

James Collins’ side pulled one back when Farmer pressed high and nipped in to steal the ball off the Celtic backline, before having the composure in front of goal to find the back of the net.

Farmer nips in to grab a goal back!#PLIC pic.twitter.com/XgUWUuzasg

— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) January 17, 2023

And before they knew it, Wolves had the chance to reduce the deficit to one when Fraser was hauled down in the area. However, Clarke guessed right to save expertly and deny skipper Tipton from 12 yards.

Half-time | Wolves 1-3 Celtic

Ben Summers went close on two separate occasions early into the second period. He was denied by Moulden who produced a low save, before an effort moments later was fired wide.

However, the Bhoys weren’t to be denied again when Letsosa did well to win the ball back and laid it on a plate for Robinson who had the easy task from a few yards out.

Wolves battled away and showed spirit to force the visitors into some last-ditch defending when Harvey Griffiths and Farmer both found bodies in the way after working space to shoot.

Substitute Barnett was given the second 45 to make an impact and he did just that with little over 20 minutes to play. The winger picked up the ball and jinked his way into some space, before curling a superb effort into the far corner and out of reach of Clarke.

A fine finish, Ty! pic.twitter.com/DpvuQ2KZrw

— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) January 17, 2023

The old gold knocked on the back door for the remainder of the game, with Hesketh and Fraser both coming close while, at the other end, Scicluna cleverly got back on the line to head away a goal bound effort.

The result brings a close to Wolves’ PLIC campaign for the season with plenty of lessons and experiences gained, as attention turns back to the Premier League Cup and PL2 schedule in the coming days.

Full-time | Wolves 2-4 Celtic

COMING UP

Wolves under-21s conclude their Premier League Cup group stage campaign with a home fixture against Cardiff City at the New Bucks Head on Friday afternoon.

NEXT FIVE

• 20/01 Cardiff (H) PLC
• 23/01 Tottenham (A)
• 27/02 Liverpool (H)
• 13/02 Arsenal (H)
• 20/02 Leicester (A)

TEAMS

Wolves | Moulden, Scott (Agboola 71), Hubner (Ojinnaka 83), Griffiths, Tipton, Kandola (Keto-Diyawa 26), Farmer (Hodnett 83), Scicluna, Fraser, Hesketh, Campbell (Barnett 46).

Subs not used | Arinbjornsson, Roberts.

Celtic | Clarke, Murphy, McPherson, Lawal, Corr, S. Robertson (Dawson 71), Brooks (Quinn 79), Carse, Letsosa, Summers (Thomson 79), Vata (Davidson 29).

Subs not used | Dede, Morrison, M. Robertson.