Wolves second string win

There were no performances stellar enough to shake Mick McCarthy's blueprint for Watford but it was still a useful work-out for a formidable looking Molineux second string.

Goals from Elliott Bennett, Jay Bothroyd and Daniel Jones saw off Graham Turner's League Two outfit in a game that further emphasised the strength of McCarthy's squad on the eve of the big Championship kick off.

The Wolves boss believes quality back up is the key to a succesful campaign - and there was some evidence at Edgar Street that his summer recruitment drive might just have provided him with it.

Karl Henry, Bothroyd and Freddy Eastwood were among the marquee names forced to slum it last night but they weren't found wanting for effort despite the modest surroundings and opposition.

And that can only be good news on the eve of a new campaign.

Injuries and suspensions cost the Molineux men dear last season, but with the likes of Henry and Eastwood to be summoned off the bench that situation surely won't be replicated this campaign.

Wolves had named their strongest possible squad before the trip but after a hard day of training McCarthy opted out of using the majority of the players who had been given a testing run out against Northampton.

The rest of the first team squad were all present and correct at Edgar Street, but the closest they got to the action was strolling roud the putch before the game kicked off.

A glut of goals kick started an entertaining first half. Wolves were caught cold by the Bulls and the game was just 90 seconds old when the Molineux men fell behind.

With the visitors back four still settling into the game lively Hereford triallist Lionel Ainsworth wriggled free from marker Jamie Clapham and crossed for Theo Robinson to head past Wayne Hennessey.

McCarthy's men hit back a few minutes later with a goal that owed much to the determination of forward Bothroyd.

He burst past his marker to deliver a swirling cross - which was missed by Hereford's former Wolves trainee Scott Brown - onto the head of Elliott Bennett, who steered home.

But Hereford weren't to be deterred, and Ainsworth notched a eye-catching second goal for Hereford when he twisted and turned past Rob Edwards and Jody Craddock before firing a low drive past Hennessey.

Wolves improved as the half wore on and had a pair of gilt edged chances to level before they actually did.

First Bothroyd was the guilty party - side-footing over from ten yards after good interplay by Bennett and defender Mark Little on the right flank.

Then Daniel Jones went even closer - smacking against the crossbar after some neat footwork in the penalty area.

Wolves striker Bothroyd atoned for his earlier error when he levelled matters with a routine tap-in just before the break.

Bennett had delivered a testing free-kick which Brown could only clear into the path of the Molineux forward - who dispatched with ease.

Hennessey's goal was rarely troubled in a spiky second half as the Wolves reserves moved through the gears.

A dipping volley by Stephen Gleeson tested Brown early on - but it was Daniel Jones who eventually claimed the winner when he headed home Henry's inswinging cross.

Both Bothroyd and Eastwood had chances to extend the lead but neither could find the target after beating the Bulls defence.

Wolves boss McCarthy put his side's slow start down to slight fatigue after a testing 48 hours.

The Molineux chief felt that his squad reinforcements "dominated" proceedings after a freak flurry of Hereford goals in the first ten minutes.

"It was another very competitive pre-season friendly," the Wolves boss said after the game.

"I thought they started well, got in amongst us and got the goals but when we got going we dominated the game really.

"All of our players had trained very hard during the day and some of the lads who started had played quite a long time at Northampton the other day too and I think it took one or two of them a bit of time to get going.

"But I thought when we did that we were the best team."

Hereford (4-4-2): Brown (Lewis 75); Hutchinson, Campion, Taylor, Beckwith; Broadhurst (McClenahan 54), Ainsworth, Donnelly, Easton; Guinan, Robinson. Wolves (4-4-2): Hennessey; Little, Edwards, Craddock (c), Clapham (L.Collins 74); Bennett (OÕConnor 74), Gleeson, Henry, Jones (Bailey 87); Eastwood (Hughes 80), Bothroyd (Johnson 74).

Referee: Mr S Bratt

Attendance: 1213 (240 Wolves)