Wolverhampton Wanderers were first to break the deadlock when Daniel Angel fired in a shot past Jack Wint after he intercepted a loose pass from the City defence.
Fabian Reynolds struck a second for the hosts seven minutes later, calming converting a low shot into the far corner.
Matty Warhurst’s goal in added time at the end of the second-half proved only to be a consolation, as City were unable to find another breakthrough against Wolves and lost for the first time in six league matches.
WHAT HAPPENED
Storm Kathleen, that hit the UK over night, did not make it easy for Ben Wilkinson’s young side who were playing against the wind in the first-half and made it difficult for us to play our usual passing game.
On 17 minutes, Seb Naylor misplaced a pass to Stephen Mfuni at the back, and the Wolves striker, Daniel Angel, intercepted, raced through on goal and fired a shot into the bottom corner past Jack Wint to give the hosts the lead.
Seven minutes later, Angel set up Fabian Reynolds following another short pass at the back for City. The Wolves winger beat his defender inside the box and slotted the ball into the far corner.
Wolves came close to a third from a direct free-kick which was taken by Reynolds, as his left footed shot sailed narrowly wide.
City responded well to going behind and we had our first shot on target when Farid Alfa-Ruprecht’s left footed shot from the right side of the box was saved by Lewys Benjamin.
Matthew Warhurst and Ashton Muir both had attempts saved in the top left corner as we pushed for a goal just before half-time.
Angel was denied a second goal of the match as his left footed shot from the centre of the box was saved by Wint.
City’s young academy outfit heeded Ben Wilkinson’s instructions at half-time to push Wolves back in the second-half, as Matty Warhurst‘s header from the centre of the box went close, but missed the target.
An attacking spell for City continued as Alfa-Ruprecht, Noble and Fletcher all had shots saved.
In added time of the second-half, Warhurst’s right footed shot from the centre of the box found the bottom left corner after Divine Mukasa’s assist.
But it proved only to be a consolation, as Wolves took all three points.
HOW WE LINED UP
Ben Wilkinson selected Jack Wint in goal, with a back four of Matty Henderson-Hall, Kian Noble, Stephen Mfuni and Seb Naylor protecting him.
Isaiah Dada-Mascoll sat in front of the defence in a deep lying midfield role in his first start since August after a lengthy injury, with Divine Mukasa and Justin Oboavwoduo playing higher up in the engine room.
Matty Warhurst started up front, with Farid Alfa-Ruprecht and Ashton Muir supporting on both wings.
Wolves Under-18s
XI | Benjamin, Diomande, Carson (C), Ashworth, Voice, Igbinoghene, Reynolds, Rawlings, Angel, Harper, McLeod
Subs | Hardy, Patterson, Ji, Bradbury, Ayman
Manchester City Under-18s
XI | Wint, Henderson-Hall, Noble, Mfuni, Naylor, Dada-Mascoll, Alfa-Ruprecht, Mukasa, Warhurst, Oboavwoduo, Muir (C)
Subs | Parker, Whatmuff, Fapetu, Alcala, Fletcher
WHAT’S NEXT
Next weekend, Ben Wilkinson’s side are back in Under-18s Premier League North action as we travel to the East Midlands to face Nottingham Forest.
Kick-off is scheduled for Saturday 13 April at 13:00 (UK).
Next Fixture
All fixturesPremier League u18
BST
