Wednesfield 0 AFC Wulfrunians 5

Summer finally arrived as Wulfs travelled to Wednesfield in the middle of a mini striker crisis with Steve Rich and Ian Perry both unavailable.

It was down to Dave Hayhurst to step up from the bench for his full debut to fill the void.

Wednesfield were the first to threaten when Mitch Fellows got in behind his marker but made a poor connection with his shot and the ball trickled through to Danny Tipton in the Wulfs goal.

Wulfs hit back immediately just two minutes later when Andy Mitchell latched on to a poor defensive header and hit a 30 yard lob that went just over the bar.

Mitchell was causing plenty of problems for the Wednesfield defence and his good work brought about the opening goal.

With ten minutes on the clock Mitchell caused panic at the back and when the ball fell to his feet fired in a shot that was tipped on to the post but Dave Hayhurst was on hand to force home the rebound.

Four minutes later Wednesfield went close when Conrad Warren challenged for a high ball just inside the Wulfs penalty area before hitting a first time shot just over the bar as the loose ball dropped.

Warren went close again two minutes later. Ryan Daley produced some good work down the left before crossing into the middle where Warren headed over the bar.

The game was still in the balance and the next goal was always going to be crucial.

James Skedgel went close for Wulfs when a cross bounced up for him to send a header over the bar and then Mitch Fellows went close for Wednesfield when he hit a first time shot over the bar following an excellent cross field pass.

The second goal came in the 26th minute and it came for Wulfs.

Robbie Hubble struck a superb diagonal ball from the left for Andy Mitchell to chest down and lift over the advancing keeper.

Mitchell was in the mood for lobbing the keeper and had a third attempt three minutes before half time but this time his effort went wide of the post.

The second half started poorly although Robin Sheffield went close to converting an Andy Mitchell square ball across goal for Wulfs in the 57th minute.

Wednesfield’s best chance of the game to date came just after the hour mark when a slide rule pass put Mitch Fellows in the clear but Danny Tipton was out quickly to block his shot with an outstretched foot.

The game as a contest was settled in the 63rd minute.

Mark Tipton delivered a deep free kick from the left, Andy Mitchell headed back across goal and James Skedgel nodded in from almost on the goal line.

Wulfs were totally dominating now and almost extended their lead when Liam Evans sent in a left wing corner and an unmarked Robin Sheffield saw his header well tipped over the bar by keeper Phil Taylor.

Wednesfield’s last chance to get back into the game, twelve minutes from time, saw a long free kick forward flicked on, headed across goal and swept into the net by Mitch Fellows but the linesman’s flag put an early end to the home sides celebrations.

Two goals in the last few minutes set the seal on a fine away performance by Wulfs, and especially Andy Mitchell.

In the 87th minute Robin Sheffield played a long pass forward for Andy Mitchell to run on to, round the keeper and roll into the empty net.

Then, one minute into injury time, Andy Mitchell picked up a loose ball and slid in Liam Evans who fired past the exposed keeper.