A game that promised so much in the first half ultimately turned in to a disaster as Wulfs crashed to a 5-1 defeat against former landlords Wolverhampton Casuals.
Wulfs got off to the worst possible start, falling a goal behind as early as the 2nd minute. Jon Aldridge dispossessed his man out wide and made his way to the byline before cutting back for Mark Habbershaw to fire home.
Gradually Wulfs took control of the game and Ricky Anslow was unlucky with a shot that deflected for a corner from which Dave Asbury’s downward header was scraped away by keeper Danny Ware.
Graham Ashton then fired over from the edge of the area after Anslow had cut the ball back and there was a big shout for a penalty when Crudgington was upended in the area.
The pressure continued and Ashton was unlucky when his 20 yard shot struck the top of the crossbar and Jake Sedgemore saw his free kick from the corner of the area deflect just wide.
Casuals almost extended their lead when a rare sortee into the Wulfs half ended with Habbershaw bearing down on goal but he was foiled by keeper Marc Evans.
The equaliser Wulfs deserved finally came in the 33rd minute when Asbury swept Ashley Burd’s free kick home at the near post.
Wulfs went in search of a second goal but were twice let down by poor first touches which allowed Ware to come out and smother the danger.
All the good work of the first half was undone as a lapse in concentration allowed Casuals to regain their lead just 12 seconds into the second half. Aldridge set Ray Facey clear down the left and he delivered a superb cross to the far post where Tom Maydew volleyed home spectacularly.
While Wulfs were reeling, Daniel Lloyd should have extended the lead when he headed an Aldridge free kick wide and Aldridge himself fired just over the bar from a narrow angle.
Wulfs had a good chance to equalise when Nathan Rose-Laing headed Burd’s corner over from close range before Casuals were denied by Evans once again when he did well to block a Habbershaw shot with his legs.
The reprieve was short lived as the home side extended their lead in the 71st minute when Maydew led a quick break out of defence before rifling a fantastic shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
Wulfs were now ragged and were thankful to Evans for a superb double save from Aldridge and Habbershaw but Casuals did find a 4th goal a minute from time. A high free kick saw Evans come under heavy pressure and when the ball dropped, substitute Joe O’Connor was in hand to prod home.
It got worse for Wulfs as Mick Eagles was dismissed for his protestations to the referee and Casuals added a 5th goal deep into injury time when O’Connor fed fellow sub Dean Clarke who fired low past the keeper.
.
Back to Fixtures & Results
.
