County continued their unbeaten start to pre-season with a 1-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers U21s this afternoon, in a behind closed doors friendly at the Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground.
Tanto Olaofe’s first-half header was the difference between the two sides, earning County a deserved victory in a game they dominated for large periods.
County lined up for the first-half with club legend Ben Hinchliffe, now in his eighth pre-season with the club, starting in goal behind a back three of Kyle Knoyle, Fraser Horsfall and summer signing Ibou Touray.
Ollie Crankshaw and Ryan Rydel were the wing-backs, with Ryan Croasdale partnering a trialist in the middle of the park. Academy scholar Ashton Mee started in a more advanced position, behind a front two of Connor Evans and Olaofe.
With the sun breaking out just ahead of kick-off, it was County who created the first clear-cut chance of the afternoon on ten minutes – Mee feeding Knoyle down the right-hand side, his cross bobbling through to Croasdale on the edge of the area but the midfielder steered his effort over the crossbar.
County did have the ball in the back of the net a few moments later, Evans turning home after Touray had hit the post, but the flag had already gone up for offside.
It was all County at this point – Crankshaw crossing early for Tanto, who touched it off for Evans to take a touch, before slamming it over from the edge of the area.
A quick counter-attack nearly undid us midway through the half; Croasdale dispossessed on the half-way line, the Wolves #9 bursting through on goal but poking his effort just wide of the far post under pressure from Hinchliffe.
They were made to pay for that miss just five minutes before the break, and there was no surprise it was created by the left foot of Ryan Rydel. The wing-back finding space down the left-hand side before delivering a lovely ball in for Olaofe, who steered his header back across the keeper and into the net for his first of pre-season.
It should have been two moments later, a lovely passage of play ending with Evans playing Rydel in behind – the cross was hard and low this time, but squeezed in between the runs of Olaofe and Crankshaw, allowing Wolves to clear their lines.
Half-Time: Wolves U21s 0-1 County (Olaofe, 40’)
As was the case in Friday’s draw with Lincoln in Pinatar, Dave Challinor looked to give minutes to as many players as possible, making a full 11 changes at half-time which included a change in formation.
Ethan Ross, back from his loan spell at York City, was in goal, whilst Macauley Southam-Hales, Akil Wright, Neill Byrne and Joe Hillary, another academy player, formed a back four for the Hatters.
Callum Camps and Antoni Sarcevic came into the midfield alongside another trialist, whilst Myles Hippolyte, Paddy Madden and Billy Chadwick played in an attacking front three.
County started the second half confidently, 16-year-old Hillary stepping into midfield, skipping past a challenge, before firing wide from distance.
The heavens soon opened in the second half, making things difficult for both sides. Ethan Ross was called into action for the first time on 55 minutes, a loose ball at the back pounced upon by the Wolves striker, but Ross got down low to his left-hand-side to parry the ball away, with the rebound fired over the bar.
The home side were indebted to their goalkeeper for keeping the score down in the second half, as Madden saw his header brilliantly saved at point-blank range, after getting on the end of Southam-Hales’ brilliant whipped delivery from the right.
Madden then almost turned provider moments later, laying it across the penalty area for Sarcevic to come charging onto, but again the ‘keeper was quick off his line to make the block.
Sarce came even closer soon after, bending a sublime free-kick over the Wolves wall but seeing it cannon back off the woodwork – leaving County having to settle for one.
Attention now turns to Saturday for Dave Challinor and his side, as we travel to National League Altrincham in our next pre-season fixture.
Full-Time: Wolves U21s 0-1 County (Olaofe, 40’).
First-Half XI (3-5-2): Hinchliffe; Knoyle; Horsfall; Touray; Crankshaw; Trialist A; Croasdale; Rydel; Mee; Olaofe; Evans.
Second-Half XI (4-3-3): Ross; Southam-Hales; Wright; Byrne; Hilary; Camps; Trialist B; Sarcevic; Hippolyte; Madden; Chadwick.
Photographer: Mike Petch
