U23 Report: Saints 1-0 Wolves

The defender rose to send a speculative header looping over goalkeeper Joe Young and into the net from Enzo Robise’s corner five minutes from time, deciding a game of few chances in favour of Saints’ youngsters.

Both teams were separated only by goal difference en route to promotion from Division Two last season, and find themselves level on points again this time around in the top tier.

Perhaps it should come as no surprise, then, that a tight game ensued and clear sights of goal proved few and far between.

Coach Dave Horseman handed a debut to Chelsea loanee Jacob Maddox, but was without usual ever-presents Kayne Ramsay and Callum Slattery, who have both temporarily departed to gain valuable experience elsewhere.

In truth, both sides struggled to create any notable opportunities in a tightly-contested first half, with Robise’s wicked corner that flashed across goal providing the only moment of real concern to the Wolves backline.

Saints’ keeper Harry Lewis did have to be alert to get his foot to a low cross at the other end, reacting quickly to diffuse the danger, but both coaches will have hoped for more from their teams as an attacking threat.

It was the visitors who looked more likely to break the deadlock after the restart, as skipper Ed Francis shot wide from an ambitious long-range free-kick, before Taylor Perry tiptoed his way into the box, only to be denied by Lewis at his near post.

Saints responded with a typical lung-busting run down the left flank from Will Ferry, but his low cross was put behind for a corner before Robise or Kazeem Olaigbe could apply the finishing touch.

Back came Wolves as the game entered its final 20 minutes. Striker Renat Dadashov dropped short to bring advancing right-back Jack Scott into play, whose fierce shot from the corner of the penalty area had to be tipped around the post by Lewis at full stretch.

Saints’ last line of defence had certainly earned his clean sheet, and Olufunwa’s timely header made it taste all the sweeter as Horseman’s side celebrated three hard-fought points.

Head to Head Stats

• Possession (%)
  45

  55
• Shots
  4

  13
• Shots on target
  1

  3
• Corners
  6

  5
• Passes Complete
  290

  361