TOWN RESERVES 0 WOLVES 2
Two clinical finishes from Wolves' Hungarian striker Denes Rosa proved to be the difference between the two sides in this evening's Pontin's League match between Huddersfield and Wolves at the Galpharm Stadium, but the main focus for Town was the minutes on the pitch gained by returning injury victims Danny Cadamarteri, Frank Sinclair, Jon Worthington and Nathan Clarke.
Striker Cadamarteri looked particularly lively and worked well in tandem with strike partner Lucas Akins; in truth, Town were unlucky not to score in what was a very decent performance throughout.
John Dungworth's side started the game in a 4-4-2 formation, with England under-19 goalkeeper Simon Eastwood protected by a back four of Academy 2nd-year Tom Jackson on the left, the returning Frank Sinclair and Shane Killock in the middle and Curtis Roberts on the right.
In midfield, Danny Racchi and James Berrett occupied the right and left wings respectively with Club Captain Jon Worthington and Matthew Young in the centre. Up front, Reserve team top-scorer Lucas Akins was partnered by Danny Cadamarteri.
The strike partnership combined well as early as the second minute; a long Simon Eastwood kick being flicked on expertly by Akins into the path of Cadamarteri, who got between the two Wolves centre-backs before drilling a shot straight at the feet of visiting 'keeper Graham Stack.
GOAL - However, it was Wolves who took the lead in the sixth minute. Shane Killock did well to get in front of Liam Hughes at the near post after a right-wing cross, but his clearance just presented right-winger Elliott Bennett with a chance to deliver the ball straight back into the box. His near-post ball was flicked on by striker Liam Hughes for Wolves number 10 Denes Rosa to head the ball past a helpless Simon Eastwood and put Wanderers ahead.
The visitors then took control of the game for the next ten minutes, using the damp Galpharm turf to put together periods of impressively crisp passing. That was until the 15th minute, when the returning Cadamarteri should have equalised. Lucas Akins did well to block an attempted clearance on the edge of the box and the ball fell into the path of the ex-Everton striker, who tried to place the ball low to the left of 'keeper Stack only to see his shot saved well.
From the resulting corner, Frank Sinclair rose highest to meet Racchi's far-post delivery but his header was always going over Stack's bar.
BOOKING - Wolves striker Liam Hughes was then booked by referee Tierney in the 20th minute for a crude lunge on young left-back Tom Jackson.
GOAL - Wolves extended their lead after 25 minutes, with Denes Rosa scoring once more. Midfielder Mark Salmon beat Jon Worthington to the ball in the centre-circle before advancing and splitting the Town defence with a great slide-rule pass. Rosa then tried to lift the ball over the advancing Simon Eastwood and despite getting a strong left-hand to it, 'Easty' could not prevent the ball from going in the top-right corner of the goal.
Town were working hard to get back into the game and their next chance came after more good combination from the strike duo. Jackson found Lucas Akins with a ball down the channel and the rangy striker did well, collecting the ball and turning inside in one motion before feeding in Cadamarteri down the right side. Danny then attacked full-back Charlie Mulgrew before turning inside and hitting a scorching left-foot drive from the edge of the box that flew just over the bar.
Cadamarteri was looking very lively for Town and he went close once more in the 33rd minute after controlling a Tom Jackson pass expertly. He looked certain to score after advancing on Graham Stack, but centre-back Lee Collins came racing across and did just enough to put the Town front-man off his stride as he hit the shot, which drifted just wide.
Academy scholar Jackson was providing good delivery from left-back and it was his cross in the 40th minute that allowed Curtis Roberts to surprise Charlie Mulgrew by getting in front of him at the far post. Unfortunately for the Terriers, Curtis could only get a heel to the ball and his effort went wide of the goal.
As the fourth official signaled two minutes of added time in the first-half, tall striker Hughes nodded a Mulgrew cross just over Simon Eastwood's bar.
Half-Time: Town Reserves 0 Wolves 2
SUBS - John Dungworth made three changes at half-time; replacing Curtis Roberts, Frank Sinclair and Jon Worthington with David Pickering, Daniel Codman and Nathan Clarke. This saw Clarke and Killock at centre-back with Codman moving into left-back, pushing Tom Jackson onto the left wing and allowing Berrett to fill in for Worthington in the centre of midfield. David Pickering for Curtis Roberts was a straight swap at right-back.
However, Town switched to 5-3-2 after 5 minutes with Codman becoming a third centre-back. This allowed Jackson and Pickering to act as wing-backs, with Danny Racchi becoming an attacking midfielder ahead of Matthew Young and James Berrett.
A good run down the left-wing by Berrett allowed Danny Racchi to pull a low ball across the box for Danny Cadamarteri to strike in the 53rd minute; however, his shot was blocked by a defender at the near post for a corner.
Racchi was involved in Town's next effort on goal, embarking upon a positive run with the ball through midfield before hitting a left-foot shot that Stack dealt with well.
Lucas Akins then broke down the right side a minute later before pulling an intelligent ball back to strike partner Cadamarteri who again forced Stack into a save low down.
Another shot from Racchi, barely a minute after the last effort on Stack's goal, went barely wide and was testament to the fact that Town were suddenly well on top.
Dave Pickering then hit a speculative shot 5 minutes later after collecting a pass from Matthew Young, but the Wolves custodian was easily equal to it.
More good link-up play between Cadamarteri and Akins saw the former put in a good whipped cross from the right that Akins nodded marginally wide in the 71st minute.
SUB - Wolves made their first change of the evening in the 72nd minute, replacing striker Liam Hughes with Ashley Hemmings.
SUB - 8 minutes later, defender Dave Edwards was replaced by Martin Riley in Wolves' second change.
A long range James Berrett shot then proved too much for Graham Stack to hold, but he did well to smother the ball at Lucas Akins' feet as the Town striker tried to follow up.
SUB - Wolves made their final change in the 86th minute, replacing David Ijaha with Scott Malone.
Town's Team:
Simon Eastwood, Curtis Roberts (David Pickering 46), Tom Jackson, Matthew Young (c), Frank Sinclair (Nathan Clarke 46), Shane Killock, Danny Racchi, Jonathan Worthington (Daniel Codman 46), Lucas Akins, Danny Cadamarteri, James Berrett
Unused Subs: Alex Smithies, Daniel Broadbent
Attendance: 267
