Oldham 2 (Stones 21, Uchegbulam 27) Wolves 2 (Holman 25, 68)
Fletcher Holman was at the double as Wolves under-21s opened their National League Cup campaign with a 2-2 draw at Oldham Athletic on Wednesday evening.
The Old Gold twice came from behind at Boundary Park through striker Holman, before earning the additional point with a 4-2 penalty shootout victory, during which Wolves scored all four penalties and goalkeeper Lewys Benjamin saved twice from the Latics.
Wolves started on the front foot and some early pressure high up from Wes Okoduwa resulted in a corner kick for the visitors, which fell to Fil Mabete inside the box as he fired over the top.
Mabete had a second opportunity minutes later and it came from a corner kick once again. This time, the ball was played short to Tom Edozie who delivered an inviting cross to the back post which Mabete met and struck off the outside of the post.
Three big chances then came and went for the Old Gold, as Holman twice found Scott Moloney in the way after finding space in the box, before Harvey Griffiths skewed over the top despite having the whole goal to aim for.
Wolves were left to rue those missed opportunities when they fell behind on 21 minutes. Benjamin thought he had more time on the ball than he did and was caught following a heavy touch, leaving Josh Stones with the simple task of slotting into an empty net.
However, the visitors didn’t waste any time in levelling as they found more space in behind with Justin Hubner’s ball over the top latched onto by Ethan Sutherland who cut the ball back to Holman, before the striker took one touch to compose himself and a second to fire high into the net.
But, Oldham were able to regain their advantage little over a minute later when Wolves failed to clear a corner kick and the ball dropped to Jes Uchegbulam who lashed home with his left boot from inside the area.
Half-time | Oldham 2-1 Wolves
Half-time substitute Abubakar Muhammed had two glorious opportunities to increase Oldham’s lead early into the second half, but it was Benjamin to the rescue on both occasions, although the forward failed to really test the Wolves stopper with a couple of tame efforts.
Wolves then looked to conjure up an opening and Matty Whittingham did well to control the ball before volleying on the swivel, but his final attempt was over the top of Moloney’s crossbar.
With 22 minutes remaining, Wolves found their second equaliser of the night and it was Holman again who found the back of the net. This time, Caden Voice’s ball over the top was latched onto by the striker, before Holman coolly slotted past Moloney.
The visitors looked to use their momentum from the leveller to go on and search for a winner, almost doing so through Sutherland who was waiting at the back post before Moloney saved well at his near stick.
A superb passing move which involved Sutherland, Finn Ashworth and Makenzie Bradbury resulted in Okoduwa finding himself advanced and with eyes for goal, but he was brilliantly denied by the goalkeeper.
The Old Gold were pushing and Sutherland was always an option down the left, up against a tiring Oldham right side, as his cross fell to the feet of Owen Farmer who shot low with his left, but Moloney was right behind it to hold to send the game to penalties.
Full-time | Oldham 2-2 Wolves
PENALTIES
Oldham | Gardner (saved), Khan (scores), Kay (saved), Hammond (scores)
Wolves | Holman (scores), Okoduwa (scores), Sutherland (scores), Bradbury (scores)
Wolves win 4-2 on penalties
COMING UP
Wolves under-21s conclude their Bristol Street Motors Trophy campaign away to Salford City next Tuesday.
NEXT THREE
- 12/11 Salford City (A) BSM Trophy
- 25/11 Huddersfield Town (A) PL Cup
- 30/11 Leicester City (H)
TEAMS
Oldham | Moloney, Clucas (Dielunvuidi 46), Kay, Garner (Muhammed 46), Uchegbulam, Gardner, Sutton, Doro, Stones (Moore 46), Hammond, Khan.
Subs not used | Norman, Holden, Ndienguila, Teixeira.
Wolves | Benjamin, Okoduwa, Hubner (Voice 46), Mabete, Ojinnaka, Griffiths (Ashworth 62), Edozie (Farmer 71), Cundle (Bradbury 62), Holman, Whittingham (Lopes 71), Sutherland.
Subs not used | Amos, Angel.
