Wolves under-21s were triumphant over Spurs under-21s in a thrilling game at the Lamex Stadium on Friday evening.
Dani Angel’s first half strike gave Wolves the lead, before Oliver Irow equalised for the hosts on the stroke of half-time.
After a quiet second half, 10 minutes of action played out as both Myles Dayman and Tom Edozie scored just three minutes apart to give Wolves a two-goal cushion with 10 minutes to play. Tyrese Hall provided a late scare, however Wolves held on for all three points in Premier League 2.
The opening exchanges were dominated by the hosts as they looked to dictate possession, while Wolves were content to sit in a compact shape and hit their opponents on the counter-attack.
Spurs’ early dominance was nearly cashed in for a goal in the eighth minute when they worked the ball to Max Robson inside the penalty area. His tame effort hit the post, before Fil Mabete’s heroic intervention prevented a Spurs player from tapping home the rebound.
Moments later, Robson went close again as he struck the post for a second time in the match. Irow cut in from the left flank and delivered an enticing cross towards a hoard of bodies, Robson connected with the ball, but his flicked header missed the mark.
The home side were in full control, bossing the game as well as creating chances to take the lead, but in the 25th minute, it was Wolves who stole the opening goal of the game.
Leo Lopes played a seeking ball through the heart of the Spurs defence, and after wrestling with his marker to gain possession, Angel met the ball and struck goalwards. Aaron Maguire did well to deny Angel’s first effort, however the Wolves forward tapped home the rebound to give his side the lead.
Spurs seeked an instant response but failed to create a clear chance soon after the goal, instead it was Wolves who defended well and broke up play to their advantage.
Wolves’ strong first half performance was undone on the stroke of half-time when Irow equalised. Hall shifted the ball onto his favored right foot and delivered a cross into a crowded penalty area, Irow rose highest and glanced a headed effort into the far corner.
Half-time | Tottenham 1-1 Wolves
The home side started the second half the strongest and looked to take the lead with two good chances inside the first 15 minutes of the half. First, Irow received the ball, free on the edge of the area after his side did well to work the ball to him, however his strike was shanked well wide of the post.
Six minutes later, Damola Ajayi lofted an effort narrowly over the crossbar from a tight angle, while Aaron Keto-Diyawa did well to make it difficult for the Spurs forward with good pressure.
Wolves continued to revolve their patterns of play around counter-attacking Spurs, while holding a strong defensive shape. Despite this, chances were few and far between thus far for the visitors as they struggled to advance the ball into good areas.
The home side had a strong grip on the game, but they would rue their good start to the second half as Wolves took the lead once again in the 77th minute. Edozie did well to advance into the penalty area before he fizzed a ball across the box, Spurs failed to deal with the danger and Dayman volleyed home a bouncing ball to score his first for the under-21s.
Just three minutes later, Lopes got his second assist of the game as he played another inviting ball through the Spurs defence, and this time it was Edozie on the end of it. He latched onto the through ball and beat Maguire in the Spurs net to increase Wolves’ lead.
Wolves’ two-goal advantage was cut to one just eight minutes later, in a 10-minute frenzy towards the end of the game. Hall’s corner kick evaded everyone in the penalty area and found the back of the net to intensify the final stages of the game.
Despite the late scare, the visitors defended superbly to hold off the waves of pressure applied by the home side in the dying embers, and saw themselves earn three huge points away from home.
Full-time | Tottenham 2-3 Wolves
LINE-UPS
Spurs | Maguire, McKnight, Akhamrich, King, Casanova (Rowswell 75), Russell-Denny (Kyerematen 75), Ajayi (Ashcroft 75), Robson, Williams, Hall, Irow.
Subs not used | Bloedorn, Black.
Wolves | Gracey, Dayman, Hubner, Mabete, Voice, Rawlings (White 64), Lopes, Whittingham, Angel, Edozie (Reynolds 89), Keto-Diyawa.
Subs not used | Nasta, Igbinoghene, Barnett.
Report by Callum Greybanks