A three goal burst halfway through the second half gave Gornal Athletic all three points from this clash between the teams who finished 2nd and 3rd last season.
It was the home side who made the early running with Jake Morgan firing an early shot wide before Kristian Green fired over from close range after Richard Young’s corner had dropped to his feet six yards out.
Wulfs were having to defend resolutely as Gornal continued to dictate the play with Pete Wood and David Meese testing keeper Marc Evans with further long range efforts.
Gradually the visitors became more of an attacking force and went close on 39 minutes when Mick Eagles headed Ian Boswell’s cross goalwards but James Pemberton got down well to save.
Their more adventurous play paid dividends as Wulfs took the lead four minutes before the interval. Nathan Rose-Laing played a good ball in behind the Gornal defence and Ricky Anslow raced through to lob the keeper from 25 yards.
The same player almost made it 2-0 three minutes after the interval when he volleyed an Eagles cross across the face of goal but just wide of the far post.
Anslow was causing the home defence all sorts of problems and went close again when he forced Pemberton into a good save with Richard Palmer’s follow effort being deflected wide for a corner.
Slowly Gornal began to get back on top and had a great chance to level matters when they were awarded a 53rd minute penalty but Evans pulled off a good save from Meese’s spot kick.
The home side continued to apply pressure and got their reward in the 71st minute when Callum Martin produced some good work on the left wing before squaring across goal for Green to prod home at the far post.
Wulfs almost responded within 60 seconds when Anslow’s shot was pushed out by Pemberton and the striker then teed up Palmer who fired in a shot that struck the underside of the crossbar before being cleared.
It got better for Gornal as they took a 76th minute lead. Again Green was the man on target, this time heading home Wood’s far post cross.
Two minutes later it was game over as Cameron Morgan took advantage of a stretched Wulfs defence to fire home a third goal.
Wulfs continued to battle and twice went close to pulling a goal back but on both occasions Pemberton foiled Anslow.
Back to Fixtures & Results
.
