A LESS than clinical Wanderers U21s side had to settle for a goalless draw as they could not find a way past Hull City, writes Liz Owen.

George Newell was unlucky not to build on his three goals this season, leading the line for Wanderers and enjoying the majority of their goal-scoring opportunities.

The hosts controlled the opening half hour and spurned several chances to take the lead, the best of which fell to Newell after 24 minutes.

The striker was played in by Jon Ceberio’s smooth through ball and darted into the box from the right to round ‘keeper Erik Bukran - only to take a poor touch and concede a goal kick.

Newell had earlier failed in an attempt to lob Bukran, shortly before poking wide a fast-paced Jordan Lussey cross from the right.

His strike partner Kaiyne Woolery also wasted a golden opportunity to put the hosts ahead two minutes before the interval, after striking the woodwork with an early cross.

After Ceberio won a corner, Woolery rose highest to meet the oncoming set-piece from a dangerous position but his downward header bounced wide.

Despite failing to test Ross Fitzsimons for the majority of the first half, Hull should have broken the deadlock through Greg Luer shortly after the half-hour mark, but he could only blast his angled effort wide.

The game then progressed into more of an even contest after the interval, yet it was Newell again who came closest to finding the net.

He latched onto a long, pinpoint pass across the pitch and drove down the left flank, before cutting into the penalty area and pulling the trigger.

Bukran could only parry his fierce close-range shot, but there were no white shirts nearby to take advantage and Hull were able to clear the danger.

Another Newell chance on the hour mark was to be his final attempt before he was replaced by Alex Samizadeh around 20 minutes later.

A thumping strike from distance by Luke Brattan was again not properly claimed by Bukran, and this time Bolton were first to the rebound through Newell, but his low shot was not well-placed and the opposing ‘keeper was able to recover in time to make a strong stop.

After holding firm from Wanderers’ attacks, Hull posed more of a threat after the break, as Robert Snodgrass fired wide from the edge of the box and Sone Aluko’s acrobatic overhead kick could not find the target.

Snodgrass then blasted well wide in the dying stages, but a late away goal would have been harsh on Iain Brunskill’s side, who did everything but score in an entertaining yet goalless contest.

WANDERERS: Fitzsimons, Lussey, Maher, Phillips, Holding, Brattan, Cvetko (Perry, 87), Kamara, Woolery, Ceberio, Newell (Samizadeh, 82)

Subs not used: Campbell, Campbell-Young, Spooner

HULL CITY: Bukran, Clackstone, Tymon, Dixon, Rodgers, Clappison, Taylor, Clark, Aluko, Luer, Snodgrass

Subs not used: Saltmer, Olley, Bowen, Annan, Barkworth