Newcastle 0 Wolves 1 – Under-23s report
Donovan Wilson’s early goal gave Scott Sellars’ under-23 side a hard-fought 1-0 win at Newcastle.
Young striker Wilson took Sherwin Seedorf’s cross to fire into the corner in the 10th minute at St James’ Park.
Newcastle named several experienced players in their side including Jack Colback, Henri Saivet, Rolando Aarons and Dwight Gayle and the latter fired just wide as the hosts looked to respond.
Gayle then found the net but was flagged offside before Cameron John cleared the striker’s shot off the line.
Morgan Gibbs-White made his injury comeback after several months out and played the first 33 minutes before being substituted in what Wolves suggested may have been a planned change.
Harry Burgoyne made a superb save from Luke Charman and Aarons fired the rebound off target as Newcastle continued to threaten just before half time.
On 66 minutes Wolves almost doubled their lead when Ryan Rainey headed Dan Armstrong’s left-wing free kick over over, before a Saivet free kick whistled over Harry Burgoyne’s crossbar.
Armstrong got in behind but keeper Freddie Woodman blocked his cross. And then Anthony Breslin made a quite remarkable goal-line clearance to block Yasin Ben El Mhanni’s shot at point blank range.
Harry Burgoyne raced from his line to make a superb block from Kyle Cameron as Wolves came under some severe late pressure, before John deflected a Newcastle cross just past his own post.
But Sellars’ team defended manfully to see out the game and take all three points, with centre half pairing Hakeem Odoffin and John both impressing in what was a resolute team performance.
Wolves (4-4-1-1): Burgoyne; Rasmussen, Odoffin, John, Breslin; Armstrong, Gibbs-White (Rainey, 33), Goncalves, Seedorf (Collins, 71); Herc; Wilson (Xavier, 82). Subs: Osbourne, Heredia.
