U18 Report: Wolves 2-0 Saints

Despite the eventual score line Saints started brightly. New recruit Nathan Tella looked lively from the off and soon slipped Jonathan Afolabi in on goal, though both the goalkeeper and offside flag denied the Irish striker.

On 18 minutes the hosts found their breakthrough. A dangerous cut-back from the right flank found Allan lurking inside the penalty area and he slotted low under Kingsley Latham.

Allan almost had a second minutes later. A deep corner from the right once again found him loitering at the far post, though Latham palmed his initial effort into the air before clutching the ball to safety.

Saints could well have levelled just before the break. Will Smallbone chipped a free-kick towards the near post for Afolabi to chest and volley, but he was unable to prevent his effort at goal flying over the crossbar.

The hosts almost doubled their tally soon after the restart. Ryan Giles went darting to the Saints byline and flashed a ball across goal, though it narrowly eluded two Wolves bodies inside the penalty area.

At the other end Smallbone’s pass found Afoabi who wriggled inside the penalty area to fire a right-footed strike low at goal, but it was well saved by the foot of Rory Brown.

Craig Fleming then moved to make his first change of the afternoon, as Tyreke Jonson made way for Harlem Hale.

Despite Saints’ best efforts, it was the hosts that eventually found the net once more on 80 minutes. Latham did well to deny Allan another from close range, but could do little to prevent substitute Austin Samuels hammering home the rebound to seal all three points for Wolves.