Braces from Keke Simmonds and Lewis Fiorini, plus goals from Henri Ogunby and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, earned Gareth Taylor’s men a terrific victory, as the young Blues produced a professional and clinical display on an afternoon of turbulent weather conditions at the City Football Academy.
What happened…
City gained control from the off and dominated possession throughout, retaining possession well and regaining it instantly. Wolves simply did not have a sniff, while the hosts created chance after chance.
The home side’s bright start almost heralded an opener inside the first five minutes, as Simmonds saw his near post effort well-saved by Jamie Pardington.
The Blues would not have to wait long to break the deadlock though, as Ogunby converted from close range on the quarter-hour mark for his fourth goal in three games, following his excellent hat-trick against Newcastle.
With the lead, Taylor’s side never looked like relinquishing it and Simmonds was unfortunate not to double the advantage, striking the crossbar with a powerful effort, before the rebound was deflected wide.
Simmonds would write his name on the scoresheet after the half-hour. Living up to his father’s name, D’Margio Wright-Phillips floated in a cross to the backpost, where Simmonds was unmarked and pounced with a diving header.
Three minutes later, it was 3-0, as Fiorini continued his record of scoring in every game so far this season, finishing off a lovely team move with a sweeping effort into the far corner.
Smelling blood, the Blues pressed further and Pardington did well to prevent his side from falling further behind before the break.
The respite lasted just two minutes into the second half though because City grabbed a fourth through Dele-Bashiru’s fine solo goal to put to rest any hopes of a Wolves fightback.
Four became five when Fiorini doubled his personal tally from the penalty spot, and that five became six within a minute, as Simmonds converted at the third attempt, after Pardington had kept out Dele-Bashiru’s long-range strike.
Simmonds almost bagged yet another hat-trick for the Academy (to accompany Ogunby’s and Nabil Touaizi’s consecutive trebles), but fired a free-kick just over the bar.
That attempt proved to be the last major action of the game, as City spread the ball around with ease in the final moments to cruise to victory.
How we lined up…
Taylor made just one change to the side which had faced Newcastle and Blackburn in the season openers, as Timi Sobowale replaced Tom Midgely.
Louie Moulden took his place in goal, shielded by a backline of Alpha Diounkou, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Yeboah Amankwah and Sobowale.
Captain Rowan McDonald protected the back four, behind Fiorini and Dele-Bashiru with Wright-Phillips and Simmonds employed on the wings. Ogunby led the line upfront.
There was more good news, as Ryan Corrigan returned to match action for the first time since suffering an injury towards the end of last season, introduced from the bench just before the hour.
What’s next…
The young Blues next host Derby at the CFA on Saturday 1 September at noon, before a two-week international break.
