Sheffield United 3 (Beattie 57, 83-pen, Stead 90)
Wolves 1 (Elliott 24)
Stephen Elliott opened his account for Wolves, but Sheffield United hit back to take the points thanks to three second-half goals.
A debateable penalty seven minutes from time proved to be the deciding factor and a stoppage time strike from home substitute Jon Stead gave the final scoreline a somewhat flattering look in the Yorkshire side's favour.
Mick McCarthy decided to leave Freddy Eastwood on the bench preferring to partner Elliott with Andy Keogh up front.
United kicked-off attacking the Bramall Lane end of the ground which contained over 2,000 travelling supporters.
Neill Collins had to head away a dangerous centre from Gary Naysmith before a Leigh Bromby cross was headed out to Chris Armstrong who volleyed over as The Blades posed the early threats.
Wayne Hennessey got behind Keith Gillespie's shot on the run from 20-yards and then Danny Webber fired narrowly over from the edge of the box.
In the 15th minute Keogh swept a pass through the United area to the far side where Stephen Ward connected with a first time shot that flew a yard wide of the far post.
The Wolves goal had a narrow escape three minutes later when, from Stephen Quinn's cross, Matt Killgallon smashed a shot against the bar. The ball dropped to Webber but his follow up effort went wide of the far post.
Following a Blades corner Elliott sprinted clear and his pass found Michael Kightly who shot across the face of goal and wide.
But, on 24 minutes, Elliott stunned the home crowd as he fired Wolves into the lead. Kilgallon fouled Keogh wide on the right and Kevin Foley touched the ball to Kightly from the quickly taken free-kick.
Kightly, in turn, played a crossfield ball to Stephen Ward whose low shot was parried by home keeper Paddy Kenny. Elliott was in on the loose ball like a flash rifling it into the roof of the net from 10-yards out.
Elliott could have had a second shortly afterwards when Keogh headed Stephen Ward's cross into his path but the striker fired over the bar.
Keogh dragged a shot wide from just outside the area after taking a short pass from Elliott before home appeals for a penalty for hands were rejected when James Beattie's header struck Gary Breen at point-blank range following a cross from Quinn.
United 0 Wolves 1
Six minutes after the restart Keogh let fly with a terrific 22-yard shot that ripped into the side netting but Foley came to the rescue at the other end when he managed to poke the ball back to Hennessey after Armstrong had nodded on to Quinn.
The Blades drew level in the 57th minute when Beattie beat Hennessey and Darren Ward to Bromby's lofted through pass and his header sailed into the vacant net as the three players collided in a heap.
Naysmith was yellow carded for a late challenge on Foley and he was followed into the book by Beattie for not retreating quickly enough at a free-kick.
In the 70th minute Keogh couldn't quite make a firm enough connection as he ran onto Collins' free-kick allowing Kenny to save.
Darren Ward went even closer when he headed against the bar after Kightly's free-kick had been nodded back into the United six-yard box by Gary Breen. The ball was hooked clear after the brief scramble that followed.
Hennessey saved from Beattie and Kenny from Keogh before United took the lead through a disputed penalty which was awarded against Breen when he tussled for the ball with Beattie.
It looked a case of six of one and half a dozen of the other but the referee pointed to the spot and Beattie duly converted the kick.
In stoppage time Kenny saved a low shot from Seyi Olofinjana and a Collins header drifted a foot wide of the post before home substitute Jon Stead took advantage of Wolves' pushing forward by poking home the third home goal. Hennessey got in a part block but he was unable to stop the ball crossing the line.
United: Kenny, Bromby, Naysmith, Morgan (capt), Beattie, Webber (Stead 66), Kilgallon, Tonge, Gillespie, Armstrong, S. Quinn (A. Quinn 80).
Unused subs: Bennett, Lucketti, Sharp.
Bookings: Naysmith (58 - foul), Beattie (60 - not retreating at free-kick), Stead (90 - foul).
Wolves: Hennessey, Foley (Eastwood 88), N. Collins, Olofinjana, Breen (capt), D. Ward, Kightly, Henry, Keogh, Elliott (Bothroyd 70), S. Ward.
Unused subs: Potter, Stack, Gray.
Referee: C.W. Oliver.
Attendance: 26,003.
Leed United U18s 0 Wolves Academy U18s 1 (Ijaha pen).
