Wolves U21 3 Chelsea U21 2

Wolves reserves recorded an excellent win over Chelsea at Telford on Monday evening in an entertaining and high quality game. Chelsea had been the only team to beat Wolves so far this season when they met in London but it was revenge here in a game that swung from end to end and kept the spectators entertained throughout the 90 minutes.

Wayne Hennessey made his comeback from injury as the only over 21 player in the Wolves team;

Hennessey
Ihiekwe, Tank, Ebanks Landell, Cranston
Kostrna, Whittall, Price, Gorman
McAlinden, Ismail

It was an even game early on with Chelsea having the majority of the possession with their precision passing but Wolves looking equally dangerous when they attacked. Hennessey was seeing plenty of the ball without having any difficult saves to make. Gorman had two half chances for Wolves but shot narrowly wide each time, and Chelsea were unlucky when a 1:2 on the right split open the Wolves defence and a low cross was turned against the bar. But just before the half hour Price played a ball through to Ismail who showed brilliant control to collect the ball over his shoulder before his shot from a narrow angle was defelected into the side netting. Ismail took the corner himself and it fell to the feet of Whittall 8 yards out and he blasted the ball in to put Wolves ahead.

The lead lasted less than two minutes as an excellent cross from the left fell to the feet of Chelsea striker Feruz who turned the ball in first time to give Hennessey no chance. But Wolves were back in front ten minutes later when Price won the ball in midfield and played the ball through to McAlinden who slotted the ball past the out rushing keeper.

McCarey replaced Hennessey at half time with the Wolves number one having a good if unspectacular workout. It was interesting in front of the small crowd to hear how vocal Hennessey was in organising the defence and making sure they held a high line and got out quickly when the ball was cleared.

Chelsea started the second half determined to get back in the game and the 2nd equaliser that came 8 minutes into the half had been on the cards from the start of the period. Feruz again the scorer when his cross shot went in off the post. At that stage Chelsea looked capable of winning the game comfortably but slowly but surely Wolves regained their composure and the intiative. Midway through the half Wolves were back in front for the third time with the best goal of the game. After a corner was cleared Cranston picked the ball up on the left, beat a player and sent in the perfect cross for McAlinden to turn in with a diving header. Chelsea missed a sitter to equalise again when the left back put the ball over the bar from 4 yards but Wolves were the better team in the last quarter and earned an impressive win.

Plenty of good performances on the home side. McCarey made one excellent diving save late on and Wolves have 4 decent keepers at the club now. Cranston looks a good prospect at left back while Tank and Ebanks Landell are big strong centre backs although they were troubled by the nippy little striker Feruz. Price always impresses me as a good passer of the ball in the middle of the park while Gorman has bulked up a little and made some good runs in the ‘tucked in’ wide position. McAlinden has the makings of a good old fashioned centre forward with an eye for goal, and Ismail is excellent running with the ball and can’t be far off getting chances from the bench of the first team. No one impressed me more on the night though than right back Michael Ihiekwe (photoed) who is a scouser with good composure and confidence on the ball and a decent defender.

Fixtures coming up have changed for the reserves (or U21s as they are now called). They play Fulham at Telford on October 29th, Liverpool at Molineux on November 5th and Middlesbrough at Telford on November 9th

Category: Team News