Crewe Alexandra's Under-18's claimed their fourth successive FA Premier Academy League victory on Saturday.
Steve Holland's young side, despite missing several key players, produced an impressive display at Reaseheath against the Midland visitors to move to second in the table in their FA Premier Academy League grouping.
The Under-18's collected their fourth consecutive victory, despite Holland missing a number of players who have been regulars in the team so far this season.
Luke Danville, Thomas Lappin, Nick Farquharson, Amari Morgan-Smith and Gareth Evans were all absent from the team, due to a variety of reasons, meaning Steve was forced to re-shuffle his pack, making the victory even sweeter, with the Alex controlling much of the game.
First Year professionals Adam Dugdale and Shaun Miller were both included in the team, as they continue their rehab from lengthy injury lay offs, whilst Junior Brown returned from injury and Ben McHugh was recalled at full back.
The Alex made the perfect start, scoring inside the first ten minutes after some hesitancy on the part of Wolves keeper William Lumley and some clinical finishing from top scorer Byron Moore.
Luke Murphy's through ball did the damage, but Lumley should really have come to claim it before Moore arrived on the scene. But following some hesitancy from the Wolves stopper, Moore was rewarded for failing to give up a lost cause to reach the ball first and finish coolly to register his eighth goal of the campaign.
Moore was close again, this time from a James Bailey ball, after 17 minutes, only for Wolves defender James Askey to produce an heroic last ditch tackle.
That moment could have proved important, as Wolves equalised within five minutes, a clever ball from Liam Hughes allowing Kyle Bennett to fire home, but Crewe were quickly back in the ascendancy, retaking the lead within five minutes.
The goal could easily be classed as a wonder strike, but goalscorer Murphy later claimed he'd mis-hit it! In the event a Miller ball into the box was headed to Murphy on the edge of the penalty area, for the Rodeheath youngster to strike an incredible left footed shot which crashed into the top corner of the net, leaving Lumley with no chance - not a bad way to celebrate your 17th birthday!!
Chris Clements was then unfortunate not to add his name to the scoresheet, hitting a fierce right footed shot which clattered the foot of the post, as the Alex took control in the second half.
Substitute AJ Leitch-Smith saw a left footed effort saved in the 65th minute, whilst Moore went close twice soon after, one effort dragging just wide and the second being stopped by Lumley.
Wolves did breifly rally, substitutes Fabrice Kasiama and Richard Mace combining to see the former hit the post, whilst Alex keeper Craig Ellison also had to be on his heels to save from Mace soon after.
But in injury time the game was ended as the Alex grabbed a third, decisive goal. Murphy was the provider, placing a slide rule pass through the Wolves defence, and substitute Dexter Ravenhill netted his first goal of the season with a low finish.
Crewe: Craig Ellison; Ashley Westwood, Adam Dugdale, Russell Courtney (sub Nathan Bancroft), Ben McHugh (sub AJ Leitch-Smith); Chris Clements, Luke Murphy, James Bailey, Junior Brown; Byron Moore, Shaun Miller (sub Dexter Ravenhill)
Subs (Not Used): Marcus Cooper (Gk)
Wolves: William Lumley, Thomas Spalding, Peter Williams, Marcel Tulloch, James Askey, Matthew Bailey, Elliott Bennett, Alex Melbourne, Danio Ijaha, Liam Hughes, Kyle Bennett
Subs: Fabrice Kasiama, Richard Mace, James Davies
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