Jody Craddock went from villain to hero for Wolves to upstage Robbie Fowler in their final Australian tour friendly against North Queensland Fury.

The Wolves club captain stormed into the box to squeeze home a headed winner to make it 2-1 in the 74th minute.

Craddock scored seven minutes after he conceded a somewhat harshly awarded penalty, for a tackle on substitute Jeremy Brockie.

Fowler, who came on as a 55th minute substitute for Daniel McBreen, sent goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey the wrong way from the spot.

Andy Keogh had earlier given Wolves a second minute lead.

The visitors had the ball in the net with what looked like two more legitimate goals in the final 18 minutes, as Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Sam Vokes were denied.

Ebanks-Blake was flagged for a marginal offside after being put through by Greg Halford, while Vokes committed a mystery foul heading home impressively from Kevin Foley’s centre.

The double-winning Championship golden boot winner also sent a twisting header against the post, from a tenacious cross from the impressive Halford two minutes from time.

In an almost identical strike to Ebanks-Blake on Friday against Perth Glory, Keogh hooked home from two yards out after goalkeeper Paul Henderson palmed aside Greg Halford’s right-wing cross, following a superb crossfield ball from George Friend.

In a much livelier start than Friday’s first friendly against Perth Glory, Wolves almost conceded after just 10 seconds when goalkeeper Carl Ikeme’s clearance was charged down by McBreen and the ball flew inches wide.

Keogh should have made it 2-0 after 10 minutes, when a long throw from Halford was headed goalwards by Friend, but the Irish forward scuffed his shot straight at Henderson.

Ikeme then had to be alert to smother a shot from the busy Middleby, who ahead of defender Christophe Berra before an exchange passes in the box sent him clear on goal in the 14th minute.

Away captain Karl Henry had a rare sight of goal two minutes later, when he worked himself into a shooting position only to fire straight at Henderson.

The game was being played at a furious pace and it was also much more competitive than Friday’s opening workout, with plenty of tackles flying in.

Wolves gave new signings Ronald Zubar, Greg Halford and Nenad Milijas their first starts in the final friendly of their Australian tour, while trialist Bobo Balde was also included from the off.

Ikeme was playing his first game since 3-1 home defeat to Preston on January 10, after recovering from a back injury.

Club record £6.5million signing Kevin Doyle wasn’t risked after suffering a twinge in training, while Michael Kightly, Dave Jones and George Elokobi were also not in the squad.

With Chris Iwelumo already back home with a broken bone in his foot, Sam Vokes got his first taste of action alongside Keogh.

Robbie Fowler started on the bench for Fury.

But it was a midfielder, Nenad Milijas, who was next to try his luck, forcing a falling save from Henderson with a 30-yard drive in the 26th minute.

Milijas then had a chance of a spectacular effort after an awful kick from Henderson but, instead of shooting, he opted to feed George Friend down the left for a cross charged down.

The Serbian playmaker then created another chance three minutes from the break, when his deep free kick was scooped wide by Christophe Berra from close range.

Wolves had another half chance on the stroke of half-time, when Friend fed Keogh on the overlap for an angled drive that flew into the side netting.

Manager Mick McCarthy made nine changes at the break, as he used all his available players.

But they carried on where they had left off as Matt Jarvis, who started on the right wing, hit a fierce low volley that was arrowing towards the bottom corner.

Henderson managed to stick a foot out and deflect the ball against his own defender, before collecting.

There were cheers from the neutral crowd in the 55th minute when Fowler came off the bench, replacing lone striker McBreen.

Changes in personnel saw Fury prove a match for Wolves, with a shot from substitute Chris Grossman producing a superb fingertip save from Hennessey from just inside the box.

Ebanks-Blake’s disallowed effort sparked fresh drama in the game, which saw Surman booked for a tackle from behind on Phil Arnold in the 83rd minute after losing possession to the player.

Wolves first half (4-4-2): Ikeme, Zubar, Balde, Berra, Hill, Halford, Henry, Milijas, Friend, Keogh, Vokes.

Wolves second half (4-4-2): Hennessey, Foley, Craddock, Stearman, Ward, Jarvis, Edwards, Surman, Halford, Vokes, Ebanks-Blake.

Fury (4-4-1-1): Henderson; Hingert, Busch, Tambouras, Tadrosse; Spagnulo (Robinson 55), Kohler (Arnold 75), Griffiths (Williams 55), Agius (Brockie 64); Middleby (Grossman HT); McBreen (Fowler 55).

Subs not used: Wilson, Malik, Petterson.

Referee: P Green.