Premier League 2

Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 4 (Voice 10’, Angel 45’, Holman 64’, Edozie 70’)

Leeds United U21 1 (Thomas pen 57’)

Wolves: Benjamin (GK), Okoduwa (White 70’), Sunderland, Voice, Pond (C), Ashworth, Esen, Whittingham (Mabete 82’), Angel (Holman 46’), Barnett (Lopes 46’), Edozie (Bradbury 76’).

Leeds: Mahady (GK), Richards, Toulson, Debayo (Cresswell 75’), Lopata-White (C), Mullen, Chambers (Vincent 46’), Crew, Thomas, Chadwick, McFadden. Subs not used: Grainger (GK), Monteiro, Moore.

Venue: Aggborough Stadium, Kidderminster

Referee: Alan Dale

Booked: Chambers, Debayo, Crew, Mullen (Leeds)

Leeds United Under-21s’ unbeaten start to the Premier League 2 season came to an end as they were beaten by Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s, despite seeing a lot of the possession at Kidderminster’s Aggborough Stadium.

Immediately dominating play and getting on the front foot in the Midlands, the Whites had the first opening when Sam Chambers drove at the heart of the Wolves defence.

Rhys Chadwick then worked it wide to Max McFadden who drew a magnificent save from Lewyn Benjamin at full stretch, with Joe Richards seeing his rebound effort crash into the side netting from a narrow angle.

Despite the bright start from Leeds, the hosts took the lead with 10 minutes on the clock. James Debayo and skipper Reuben Lopata-White had initially done well to prevent Dani Angel getting a shot on goal from close range, only for the loose ball to fall kindly for Caden Voice who fired home.

Looking for an immediate response, in-form forward Luca Thomas did have the ball in the back of the net for Scott Gardner’s side, though sadly the flag had gone up on the far side for an offside against the striker in the build-up.

Moments later, Thomas went close once more as he found space after being expertly picked out by Lopata-White’s floated pass over the top, curling a powerful strike narrowly over the crossbar.

The pressure continued to mount and clever play down the Leeds left created an opening for Chadwick inside the area, but the midfielder dragged wide under pressure from several old gold shirts.

For all United’s possession, the hosts would have extended their lead if not for a sublime save from the impressive Rory Mahady, getting down superbly well to deny left-back Ethan Sunderland’s powerful low drive.

Approaching half time, Benjamin again made a crucial intervention between the posts for the home side, making a wonderful diving save to parry away Thomas’ goalbound effort from the edge of the area.

The Wolves keeper continued to be busy moments before the break, again making a strong stop to parry Chadwick’s fizzing strike away from danger.

Against the run of play however, the hosts doubled their lead in first half stoppage time, when striker Angel latched onto a long pass and fired low beyond Mahady from close range.

HALF TIME: Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 2-0 Leeds United U21

A first change at the break from Scott Gardner brought Harvey Vincent into the action, in place of Chambers, and the winger was immediately involved, hooking Jeremiah Mullen’s looping delivery back into danger zone which the hosts desperately cleared as Thomas lurked.

As had been the story for large spells of the first half, the one-way traffic continued, with Benjamin again making a fine save scampering across to parry McFadden’s deflected effort away from danger.

On the break, Wolves’ Josh Esen then spurned a glorious opportunity to add a third for the hosts as he looked destined to tap home from substitute Fletcher Holman, but the winger was unable to sort his feet out and the chance somehow went begging.

The Midlands outfit would be punished for that miss just moments later, when Thomas was sent tumbling to the floor inside the area after linking up well with Vincent.

The striker, who already has scored twice from the spot so far this term, made no mistake as he stepped up from 12 yards, arrowing his penalty low into the corner to halve the deficit!

Nearly as soon as the Whites had gotten on the scoresheet, however, the hosts launched on an electric counter-attack which saw Holman race through one-on-one and, keeping his composure, the forward poked beyond Mahady to restore Wolves’ two goal lead.

Holman went close to grabbing a second in a matter of minutes, with Mahady on hand to make a superb fingertip save to tip his well-struck effort over the bar.

A fourth did come 20 minutes before the end, when winger Tom Edozie rounded the Leeds keeper and finished confidently.

FULL TIME: Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 4-1 Leeds United U21