On Top At Aggborough
Cheltenham Town 1 (Lindegaard 41)
Wolves 3 (Elliott 28, Kightly 38, N. Collins 53)
Wolves were given a useful workout by Cheltenham Town in a friendly moved from the flood stricken city to Kidderminster's Aggborough home.
Stephen Elliott and Michael Kightly were first half scorers for Mick McCarthy's men and, after Town had cut the deficit before the break, Neill Collins restored the two goal advantage shortly after the resumption.
Wolves had much the better of the opening exchanges with corners from Stephen Ward and Kightly being cleared and Town keeper Shane Higgs claiming a dangerous centre from Ward.
But the first real goal attempt was by former Wanderers trainee Ashley Vincent who shrugged off a Darren Ward challenge and hit a dipping, angled shot narrowly over the bar.
Vincent figured again in the 17th minute when he crossed from the left to Andy Lindegaard who hooked a first time shot over the bar from 12-yards.
But Wolves were soon on the frontfoot again and after Stephen Ward had seen his low shot deflected into the side netting by Higgs, the keeper then blocked an angled effort from Andy Keogh.
But the deadlock was broken in the 28th minute when Kightly's crossfield pass picked out Stephen Ward who cut inside before drilling a shot against the foot of the post. The loose ball fell to Elliott who lashed it into the roof of the net for his first goal for the club.
Kightly made it 2-0 ten minutes later when he finished a good move involving Keogh, Ward and Darren Potter whose shot was blocked with the ball breaking to the former Grays man who made no mistake from ten-yards.
But three minutes later Cheltenham pulled a goal back when John Finnigan found Lindegaard who had beaten the offside trap and was completely unmarked in front of goal to leave Matt Murray with no chance.
Half-Time: Cheltenham 1 Wolves 2
Stephen Ward's shot on the turn was deflected behind for a corner that led to a third goal for Wolves with 53-minutes gone. Neill Collins moved upfield to bullet home a close-range header from Kightly's flag-kick.
Michael Gray came on for Stephen Ward shortly afterwards and the defender was soon involved in the action his cross finding Elliott who turned and fired into the side netting.
Kightly shot over the bar after a patient build up involving substitute Karl Henry, Potter and Keogh before Lindegaard forced a fine save from Murray who dived full length to his left to save.
Both Eastwood and Kightly were no more than a yard away from increasing the lead with two shots in as many minutes.
Esatwood was wide from just outside the area with a snapshot that would have beaten Higgs had it been on target, then Kightly worked a shooting position for himself before hitting a shot that curled just over the angle of bar and post.
Vincent then drew the best from Murray who managed to turn away a low drive from the corner of the box before smothering the loose ball.
In stoppage time Eastwood squared to pass to the tireless Kightly who fired high over the bar.
Town: Higgs, Gill, Ridley, Bird (Connolly 73), Duff, Wylde, Lindegaard, Finnigan, Finnigan, Vincent, Gillespie (Reid 59), Yao (Ledgister 73).
Unused subs: Brown, Puddy, Gallinagh, Gill, Manship.
Wolves: Murray (Hennessey78), N. Collins, Mulgrew, Olofinjana (Henry 59), Breen (Craddock 64), D.Ward (Gleeson 78), Kightly, Potter, Keogh, Elliott (Eastwood 59), S. Ward (Gray 54).
Referee: A.M. Penn.
Attendance: 1,673.
