U21s: Wolves 1 United 4

Tyrell Malacia opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, after Wanderers goalkeeper Alfie Brooks spilled Jack Fletcher's free-kick, with the Dutchman reacting quickest to net.

Chido Obi then added a second, with James Scanlon's effort coming back off the bar and falling kindly to the United forward, who tapped home into an empty net.

Gabriele Biancheri then got in on the act, with his strike taking a wicked deflection off of Saheed Olagunju, before looping over Brooks who had no chance.

Ethan Sutherland's drive from the edge of the area made it 3-1 inside the last ten minutes, before Obi added his second and the final goal of the evening for our young Reds.

It was Wolves who started the brighter of the two sides, with Reds goalkeeper Will Murdock called into action early on to deny Daniel Angel.

Malacia's driving run forward opened up an avenue for Scanlon to drive into, with the latter shooting on sight, albeit a tame effort on goal.

Jack Fletcher's shot from distance marked out next opening as United ramped up the pressure, before Jayce Fitzgerald's speculative strike from the halfway line almost caught out Brooks.

Angel wanted a penalty on 36 minutes, with Tyler Fredricson and him getting involved in a tangle as the first half continued. The referee waved away the hosts' claims.

Obi opened up a tidy opportunity on the edge of the penalty area soon after, but his shot was too high and sailed over the bar in Shropshire.

Brooks then handled the ball outside of his penalty area as we reached first-half stoppage time, earning himself a caution and thus giving our Academy side a set-piece in a dangerous position.

Jack Fletcher took aim and thus caused the Wolves shot-stopper into a save, but Malacia was on hand to sweep home the rebound, opening the scoring just seconds before the interval.

Diego Leon and Tyler Fletcher were introduced as the second period began in Telford, with Makenzie Bradbury's low cross into the area the only real action of note inside the opening stages.

Obi's driving run into the box opened up half a yard for the teenager as we went in search of a second, with his strike deflecting over the bar as our advances continued.

It didn't take long before the Dane got his goal, however, with Scanlon's low drive flicking up and onto the woodwork, before dropping kindly to the ex-Arsenal man, who tapped home to score our second of the evening.

Just moments after being introduced, Biancheri then found the net to chalk up a third for our young Reds, with the Welshman continuing his terrific form this term with a tidy finish inside the area.

After some neat footwork, Gabriele drilled a low effort at goal that again took a deflection and looped into the net, with lady luck clearly against the hosts.

The scoring wasn't done yet, however, with Sutherland powering a shot that flew into the side netting to give Wolves some brief, late hope, in this Premier League 2 contest.

Obi ended that hope soon after, with Biancheri smartly taking the brunt of a heavy challenge to play in the 18-year-old, who lashed home his second and our fourth of the evening.

That result sees our Under-21s return to the top of the Premier League 2, with our next task another domestic outing against Fulham in the capital on Friday.

MATCH DETAILS

Wolves: Brooks; Lembikisa, Ojinnaka (Lochhead 46), Olagunju; Edozie (Ashworth 46 (Barnett 65)), Rawlings, Bradbury, Sutherland; Holman, Angel (Chiwome 64) Gonzalez (Dayman 64).

Goals: Sutherland 83.

Booked: Sutherland.

United: Murdock; Kamason (T.Fletcher 46), Fredricson (Munro 62), Armer, Malacia (Leon 46); Fitzgerald, Devaney; Mantato (Biancheri 71), J.Fletcher, Scanlon, Obi.

Subs not used: Heath.

Goals: Malacia 45+5, Obi 69 & 86, Biancheri 74.

Booked: Devaney.