Salford City 3 (Davies 8, 68, Stockton 11) Wolves U21s (Voice 42, Barnett 90+3) 2
Wolves under-21s were edged out by Salford City in a five-goal thriller to conclude their 2024/25 Bristol Street Motors Trophy group stage campaign.
Despite falling two goals behind inside the opening 11 minutes, Caden Voice pulled one back three minutes before the interval to bring James Collins’ side back into the game.
Fletcher Holman then spurned the chance to level the tie from the penalty spot on 66 minutes, as Matt Young was successful in guessing right to deny the striker, before Salford made it 3-1 less than two minutes later.
Young saved a second penalty in stoppage time, this time from Ty Barnett, but the Wolves midfielder was on hand to slot home the rebound to make for a tense ending which also saw the same player fail to make the most of an opening with seconds to spare as the hosts held on.
Under-18s goalkeeper Josh Gracey was handed his U21 debut in between the sticks and he made a positive start, holding onto the ball well after Conor McAleney had struck a volley from the edge of the box after a cross was only half-cleared to the Salford man.
The hosts then stole a march, scoring twice within the space of three minutes to go two goals to the good early on.
It took just eight minutes for the Ammies to take the lead, as a corner kick from Tom Edwards was met by the head of Jez Davies who powered home past Gracey.
And it was two just three minutes later. This time, a cross into the box was nodded into the danger zone by Kyrell Malcolm before Cole Stockton was on hand to sweep home for the second.
The Old Gold needed a response and came close when Leo Lopes sent in an inviting cross which was met by the head of Holman who rose highest, but was unable to keep his effort down.
Gracey was required back up the other end when the ball was given away cheaply before McAleney ran at Temple Ojinnaka and fired low at the goalkeeper who stood firm to make the save.
The visitors halved the deficit three minutes before the interval when a well-worked corner kick was played to Lopes who neatly slotted Barnett back in down the right. The midfielder had space and time to dink a cross to the back post where Fil Mabete rose to nod back across goal and to Voice who was there to prod in from a few yards out.
A goal back courtesy of Caden Voice 📸 pic.twitter.com/7UCRbicK5X
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) November 12, 2024
Half-time | Salford 2-1 Wolves U21s
There was little action to report on inside the first 15 minutes of the second period, however Holman was set free down the left and was pushed slightly wide as the striker could only skew off target with two others in support.
Salford attacked at the other end and after an inviting cross came into the box, Mabete was perfectly placed to flick the ball away from danger just as Stockton’s eyes looked to be lighting up.
Wolves were then given a golden opportunity to draw level as Makenzie Bradbury’s superb ball to Alfie White on the right resulted in the defender being pulled down inside the area by Malcolm. Holman stepped up from 12 yards, but was denied by Young who guessed right to prevent the equaliser.
And that save proved vital, as the Ammies went up the other end to regain their two-goal advantage little than two minutes later, with Davies collecting the ball in space inside the penalty area before firing past Gracey for his second of the night.
— Wolves Academy (@WolvesAcademy) November 12, 2024
The Old Gold regained some momentum following a triple change which saw Tom Edozie, Mateus Mane and Dani Angel all introduced, while Stockton went close to a fourth with a header going over the top at the other end.
There was a glimmer of hope for Collins’ side when, in stoppage time, substitute Owen Farmer was pulled down inside the area by Marshall Heys for a second penalty. This time, Barnett stepped up but Wolves were once again denied by Young, however Barnett was able to score the rebound with the ball falling kindly to his feet.
And deep into seven added minutes, Barnett should have levelled when a cross into the box was only cleared to the goal scorer, but he skewed his volley wide of the mark when the goal had opened up.
Full-time | Salford 3-2 Wolves U21s
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s travel to face Huddersfield Town in the Premier League Cup following the international break.
NEXT THREE
- 25/11 Huddersfield Town (A) PL Cup
- 30/11 Leicester City (H)
- 04/12 Ajax (H) PL International Cup
TEAMS
Salford | Young, Edwards, Berkoe (Olopade 46) (Heys 76), Stockton, McAleny (Butt 86), Davies, Luamba, Malcolm (Padovani 80), Shephard (Wright 80), Cleary, Humbles.
Subs not used | Curran-Nicholls, Bairstow.
Wolves | Gracey, White, Mabete, Ojinnaka, Voice, Whittingham (Farmer 80), Griffiths (Bradbury 39), Ashworth (Mane 69), Lopes (Edozie 69), Barnett, Holman (Angel 69).
Subs not used | Amos, Carson.
