Stourbridge 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 5

With one eye, understandably, on Saturday's F A Cup tie at Dover, boss Gary Hackett made wholesale changes with none of Saturday's starting line-up at Halesowen featuring at the kick-off.

Although Louis Harris missed out with a foot injury, there were opportunities for the likes of Chris Knight, Ben Billingham and Drew Canavan to be involved, while Charlie Price made his first appearance since August.

In the starting eleven there were debuts for teenage defender Jacob Wedderburn, promoted from our youth team, another young defender Alex Penny, plus two players who had featured for us in pre-season, namely attacker Tyree Clarke and midfielder James Hill. Youth team striker Brandon Hague was included amongst the substitutes and featured late on in the game.

On a misty November evening, in conditions similar to when we played Carlton in a Trophy replay twelve months ago, a quiet opening spell saw little goalmouth action other than a tidy 8th minute move by the visitors which saw Aaron Simpson find Donovan Wilson outside the box and he turned and hit a low shot that was held by Price.

Wolves, under the stewardship of ex-Blackburn and Leeds midfielder Scott Sellars, played some attractive football at times and on 24 minutes they opened up our inexperienced back-line again as Wilson back-heeled the ball into the path of Simpson who struck a low shot that drew a sharp save from Price down to his left before Wilson was flagged offside as he went to fasten on to the loose ball.

A minute later though Wolves opened the scoring as Daniel Armstrong's right-wing corner found Sylvain Deslandes at the far post and he directed an easy header home past Price.

On the half-hour mark we carved out our first opportunity of the night as Ben Billingham released Mark Wright through the left channel area and he broke into the box before being halted by Simpson, who picked up a knock in the process. Despite falling to the floor, Wright's persistence almost paid off as he dug out a prodded shot that ran wide.

Wolves returned on to the attack to win a free-kick just outside the right-hand side of the box on 35 minutes and Callum Harris whipped an effort in with pace, however Price saved on his line.

Two minutes later though we fell further behind as we were once again undone from a flag-kick. The ball was swung in from the left by Harris into the near post area where Aaron Hayden jumped with Price and although the ball was headed off the line by Lewis McPike, it dropped invitingly towards Regan Upton who smacked home a volley.

A better passage of play towards the interval almost brought us reward. In the 44th minute Drew Canavan worked his way into the area before his shot was touched round by Harry Burgoyne. Although the corner was headed away, Mark Wright retrieved the ball and sent over a cross from the left that enabled Jacob Wedderburn to get in a header that was too close to the keeper. Three minutes into stoppage time and with the last kick of the half Billingham blazed a 25-yard free-kick wide after Tyree Clarke had been fouled.

The game was effectively over for us within a minute or so of the re-start as Callum Harris produced a delightful 25-yard free-kick over the wall and past a rooted Price.

We tried to find an instant reply with Canavan feeding Wright on the left and his low cross picked out Clarke, who didn't quite get the clean connection he'd hoped for and his effort was easily blocked.

On 53 minutes Wolves were handed the chance to stretch their lead further from the penalty spot after a mistimed tackle by Wedderburn sent Mekhi Leacock-McLoed tumbling on the left-hand side of the box, however Declan Weekes soft spot-kick was saved by Price with his legs.

Brian Smikle replaced a tiring Wedderburn after an hour and just two minutes later he found Lewis McPike on the right-hand side of the box. His lay-off inside was deflected towards Clarke who hit an early low shot that was blocked by the keeper.

With 67 minutes played though Wolves did notch a 4th goal. Sub Bright Enobakhare played a low pass into the run of Wilson who drilled in a low shot that Price looked to have covered, but the dewy surface enabled to ball to squirm under his body and into the net.

Brandon Hague entered the fray in place of Billingham for the last fifteen minutes, but two minutes later it was five for Wolves as they worked a short corner routine which we were slow to react to. Armstrong teed up Enobakhare who cracked home a low angled drive.

With nine minutes left Drew Canavan had to be stretchered off after a clumsy challenge by Ryan Rainey, meaning Tom Tonks got a brief run-out at the end and in stoppage time we almost grabbed a consolation goal as McPike slipped a pass into Hague on the right-hand side of the box, but his low angled shot was saved by Burgoyne.

Wolves now go forward to meet Coleshill Town in Round 2 of the competition, while we must focus now on Saturday's testing encounter at Dover Athletic.