Wulfs 0 Wednesfield 3

There is a fine line between winning and losing and Wednesfield have certainly found a way of consistently staying above that line while Wulfs are only a small step from joining them.

Wulfs opened up playing into a fairly strong breeze but enjoyed the slightly better of the early exchanges. 

It was Wednesfield, however, who fashioned the first real chance of the game on nine minutes when hesitancy in the Wulfs midfield allowed Conrad Warren to hook a pass on to Mitchell Fellows who drove just wide of the post from a narrow angle.

Wulfs continued to control possession and had a golden opportunity to take a 19th minute lead when Liam Evans released Ricky Anslow in the inside left channel and he burst into the penalty area only to be scythed down whilst attempting to skip past the last man.

James Skedgel’s was the man to assume responsibility from the spot but keeper Ben Astley guessed the right way to pull off a fine save.

Anslow was causing the Wednesfield defence all sorts of problems and went close to opening the scoring himself in the 24th minute.

Again he raided down the left but this time his attempted cross was blocked back into his path and he hit a first time curling shot towards the top corner of the net only for Ben Astley to tip the ball around the post for a corner.

Wednesfield had been content to soak up the Wulfs pressure but in the 34th minute they broke forward to take the lead.  A throw in down the left was headed inside and Conrad Warren turned smartly before hitting a low drive in at the near post from just inside the area.

This setback stung Wulfs but they did create one half chance to get back into the game a minute before half time when a short corner routine saw the ball played back to Danny Crudgington and he delivered a fine low curling cross in behind the Wednesfield defence but, unfortunately, inches in front of the advancing strikers at the far post.

An early change in the second half for Wulfs saw new signing Earl Grant come on in place of Liam Evans but they were still struggling to get any momentum going against a Wednesfield side who were proving very adept at protecting their lead.

In fact it was Wednesfield who were looking the more threatening now and went close in the 61st minute when Danny Mason delivered a good ball into the area which Mitchell Fellows flicked goalwards but Danny Tipton was down well to save.

A second come was forthcoming though one minute later.  Ryan Daley played a great ball through the defence from the left and Conrad Warren ran on and slotted the ball past Danny Tipton for his, and Wednesfield’s second of the game.

Further changes saw Simon Hardle and Richard Gummery introduced in to the game but Wulfs still did little to penetrate the Wednesfield defence.  The one final opportunity that came their way was in the 79th minute when Myles Fenn released Ricky Anslow but his lob from the edge of the area came back off the face of the bar and into the keepers hands.

Wednesfield made the game safe four minutes from time when substitute Adam Morton was upended in the area and Stuart Skitt fired home the resulting spot kick.

In truth, it was a close game in which Wednesfield took their three real chances while Wulfs three good chances consisted of missing a penalty, forcing a great save from the keeper and hitting the bar.  Games are won or lost on such small margins.