Scorers:
Redon Gashi (pen) 2 mins
Manny Katundu (pen) 32 mins
Mike Owusu 81 mins
Starting XI:
Ryan Eades, Jean Merour, Kyron Richards, Adeyemi Ayodele, Jack Enkh,
Deji Alabi, Jamie Hardwick, Manny Katundu, Lewis Owiredu, Redon Gashi,
Nathan Weekes
Wakefield AFC completed their pre-season fixtures with an away win against Dronfield. The previous matches had all been against opposition from higher divisions but Wednesday gave the lads a chance to see how they could fare against opposition of an equal or lower standard than what they will face this season.
Any nerves were settled early when the referee awarded a very early penalty after Deji Alabi was brought down in the box following a great turn inside a defender. Redon Gashi stepped up to take the pressure shot and although it wasn’t outside the keeper’s reach it was a powerful strike that went under their #1 and into the net.
Wakefield enjoyed a good amount of possession in the first half and allowed their hosts very few chances. Indeed the away side had plenty of chances to add to the score with great attacking play down the wings but only fell short with communication in the final third. Manager Chris Turner still has work to do to build the chemistry and cohesion with his team but there are very promising signs for the future.
Just after the half-hour mark, the score was doubled when the referee awarded Wakefield their second penalty of the match. This time it was left-back Jack Enkh on a raid down the opposite flank that was caught by their defender on the edge of the area. This time it was Manny Katundu that stepped up and fired a great drive into the top right corner with confidence.
So the away team went in at the half-time break with a 2-0 lead and the lion’s share of the possession. Wakefield had the chance to make it 3-0 and a hat-trick of penalties early in the second half but Alabi had his shot saved to the keeper’s left. Ten minutes into the second half, Dronfield pulled a goal back with the Wakefield defence caught marking space. Their attack down the right delivered a high cross to the far post which was headed back across goal. Dronfield had an unmarked striker in space between two defenders who had time to place an overhead kick beyond substitute keeper Quinaceo Hunt who had replaced Ryan Eades at half-time. There was nothing the Bermuda international could do to stop the goal though as he was left totally exposed.
Wakefield continued to create chances in the second half, especially as the fitness started to drain on the home side. Striker Mike Owusu came on as a substitute after recovering from illness and sealed the win with a great headed goal nine minutes from the end. It was a great win for the Wakefield team and will hopefully give them some much needed confidence going into Saturday’s first league match of the season.
After the game I spoke to Chris Turner who said “I thought that was a great game for us. It was two very competitive teams from the same level. The previous five games have been very tough for the lads and I have to give them great credit for the character that they’ve shown in the games that they’ve played against opposition from higher leagues. They’ve dug in and done really well but to be fair to them they were in situations where at this stage of our new club it was a step beyond. Whereas with tonight’s game, I’ve always been saying to the boys that’s what we’ve got to be ready for and that’s been the case tonight”.
I asked if they were all ready for Hepworth on Saturday and Chris told me “Yeah, we have two games on Saturday in two leagues which is going to stretch the squad but I think the boys are ready fitness-wise and everything else. Let’s see what this league throws up against us”.
He also confirmed that no players had suffered any injuries in the Dronfield match but there were one or two players who may carry knocks into the first weekend of the season.