Goals:
9m Callum Lee (Penistone)
17m Lewis Owiredu (Wakefield)
32m Callum Lee (Penistone) penalty
52m Lewis Owiredu (Wakefield)
84m Noah Hamelberg (Wakefield)
Wakefield Starting XI:Quinaceo Hunt, Jean Merour, Kyron Richards, Marvin Emmanuel, Jack Enkh, Deji Alabi, Manny Katundu (capt), Jamie Hardwick, Lewis Owiredu, Redon Gashi, Rayjon Moore
Subs Used:
39m Noah Hamelberg replaced Deji Alabi
71m Mike Owusu replaced Rayjon Moore
71m Nathan Weekes replaced Redon Gashi
Bookings: Quinaceo Hunt
If there’s one thing we can say after the Wakefield lads don’t do boring matches. After the 2-2 and 3-3 draws with Hepworth and Dodworth respecively, they delivered another goalfest against Penistone. Thankfully this time, it turned out to be the team’s first win of the season and therefore our landmark first league win since our creation. Although Wakefield sit mid-table at the moment in eighth place, we could even go top if we win on Wednesday and other results go our way.This week we visited Penistone Church to play their reserves team. They have a lovely ground at the end of a nice scenic drive and the match was played in clear, sunny weather in front of an estimated attendance of eighty home and away fans. You could clearly see that our away support is growing though with a good collection of Wakefield AFC shirts on display in the stands.The team news was that Bermudan international Quinaceo Hunt replaced Ryan Eades in goal while Redon Gashi was chosen ahead of Nathan Weekes up front alongside Rayjon Moore. Weekes is recovering from illness and still made the bench. The remainder of the team was the same as the last game with centre back Adoyemi Ayodele still away.As with the previous match against Dodworth, it was a slow start for Wakefield AFC and we were a goal down after just nine minutes when the opposition’s #2 curled a free kick around the wall and past the outstretched arm of Hunt in goal. Wakefield fought back well and equalised when Moore beat the Penistone keeper to a through-ball on the right side of the box. His touch took him to the by-line where he crossed to the face of goal. After a deflection the ball fell to Lewis Owiredu who slotted the ball home to bring Wakefield back level for his first goal of the season.Just before the end of the first half-hour, winger Deji Alabi was the victim of a very robust challenge and needed treatment for a leg injury. The scorer of two goals in the first two games was able to carry on for a while but was eventually substituted for Noah Hamelberg before the end of the half. After the match he still needed the help of my walking stick to make it to the minibus and may well be a doubt for the next fixture.Penistone were able to take the lead before Alabi came off when the referee awarded them a penalty. They played a striker through on goal, Hunt came out to close him down and just before the pair met the ball was knocked forward. With Hunt second to the ball as the striker caught his outstretched leg, the referee had no choice but to award the penalty. It was the third penalty awarded against us in three games this season and certainly something we need to avoid in future. The Penistone set-piece taker scored his second of the game to give them a half-time lead at 2-1.We know by now that the Wakefield lads play their best football with their backs to the wall and the second half didn’t disappoint. Whatever manager Chris Turner said at half-time clearly worked as Wakefield were a much better team in the second half.Wakefield’s equaliser came when Penistone forgot one of the main rules of football – play to the whistle. Keeper Hunt played a long kick downfield and the home side felt one of their players was fouled in the middle of the park. The referee waved play on while their back line had stopped, feeling their protest would be accepted. The ball went through for Owiredu to score his second of the match, one on one with the keeper and slotting it home calmly.Seven minutes later and Owiredu nearly had his hat-trick, a diving cat-like save from the Penistone keeper denying his header. Soon after that captain Manny Katundu took a long shot at goal which was well saved. Wakefield were starting to knock on the door more often and the home keeper was defintely the busier of the two between the sticks.Mid-way through the second half, Penistone rode their luck as a clear handball in the area was denied by the referee. Chris Turner then decided it was time to change the forward line and push for glory. Mike Owusu and Nathan Weekes replaced Moore and Gashi in attack.There was a lot of action in the final six minutes of the match, not least of all the winning goal for Wakefield. That came first when the ball was thumped home by Hamelberg after 84 minutes from inside the box, sending the away support wild. Just after the re-start, Penistone had a chance to equalise with a free kick on the edge of the box but their shot was deflected wide. A minute later, Wakefield went down to ten men when Owusu went off with a hamstring injury with no further substitues available. Owiredu was also fouled as he continued to chase his hat-trick, caught in the face by a flailing arm while chasing down the wing with the offender lucky to stay on the field.In the end Wakefield weathered any storm thrown at them and clinched their first ever victory to the delight of the away fans. The style and flow of the games in the first three matches has helped the team and fans really bond already and it’s great to see such a passionate following so early in the club’s journey.One thing that is interesting to see is that the wingers are scoring more than the strikers so far with five of the eight goals so far courtesy of Alabi (2), Owiredu (2) and Hamelberg. The strikers Weekes and Moore have one apiece and centre-back Emmanuel has one from his late equaliser against Dodworth.Here are the thoughts of manager Christ Turner after a historic first victory:“I thought they (Penistone) were decent but we gave them two goals, they didn’t create anything. Their keeper made two top class saves to keep them in the match. Realistically, we should have won all our first three games. In the first half yesterday we didn’t start the game well. The second half was much better and we played the kind of football we are good at. There were times where Penistone couldn’t get out of their own half. We do have to stop giving away silly free kicks as by doing so we create pressure on ourselves. It was a great win for us and let’s face it any away win is a good win. The players are showing great character already this season. I’m happy with eight goals scored in three games but conceding six goals in the same period is not good.”
9m Callum Lee (Penistone)
17m Lewis Owiredu (Wakefield)32m Callum Lee (Penistone) penalty52m Lewis Owiredu (Wakefield)
84m Noah Hamelberg (Wakefield)Wakefield Starting XI:Quinaceo HuntJean Merour, Kyron Richards, Marvin Emmanuel, Jack EnkhDeji Alabi, Manny Katundu (capt), Jamie Hardwick, Lewis OwireduRedon Gashi, Rayjon MooreSubs Used:39m Noah Hamelberg replaced Deji Alabi71m Mike Owusu replaced Rayjon Moore71m Nathan Weekes replaced Redon GashiBookings: Quinaceo HuntIf there’s one thing we can say after the Wakefield lads don’t do boring matches. After the 2-2 and 3-3 draws with Hepworth and Dodworth respecively, they delivered another goalfest against Penistone. Thankfully this time, it turned out to be the team’s first win of the season and therefore our landmark first league win since our creation. Although Wakefield sit mid-table at the moment in eighth place, we could even go top if we win on Wednesday and other results go our way.This week we visited Penistone Church to play their reserves team. They have a lovely ground at the end of a nice scenic drive and the match was played in clear, sunny weather in front of an estimated attendance of eighty home and away fans. You could clearly see that our away support is growing though with a good collection of Wakefield AFC shirts on display in the stands.The team news was that Bermudan international Quinaceo Hunt replaced Ryan Eades in goal while Redon Gashi was chosen ahead of Nathan Weekes up front alongside Rayjon Moore. Weekes is recovering from illness and still made the bench. The remainder of the team was the same as the last game with centre back Adoyemi Ayodele still away.As with the previous match against Dodworth, it was a slow start for Wakefield AFC and we were a goal down after just nine minutes when the opposition’s #2 curled a free kick around the wall and past the outstretched arm of Hunt in goal. Wakefield fought back well and equalised when Moore beat the Penistone keeper to a through-ball on the right side of the box. His touch took him to the by-line where he crossed to the face of goal. After a deflection the ball fell to Lewis Owiredu who slotted the ball home to bring Wakefield back level for his first goal of the season.Just before the end of the first half-hour, winger Deji Alabi was the victim of a very robust challenge and needed treatment for a leg injury. The scorer of two goals in the first two games was able to carry on for a while but was eventually substituted for Noah Hamelberg before the end of the half. After the match he still needed the help of my walking stick to make it to the minibus and may well be a doubt for the next fixture.Penistone were able to take the lead before Alabi came off when the referee awarded them a penalty. They played a striker through on goal, Hunt came out to close him down and just before the pair met the ball was knocked forward. With Hunt second to the ball as the striker caught his outstretched leg, the referee had no choice but to award the penalty. It was the third penalty awarded against us in three games this season and certainly something we need to avoid in future. The Penistone set-piece taker scored his second of the game to give them a half-time lead at 2-1.We know by now that the Wakefield lads play their best football with their backs to the wall and the second half didn’t disappoint. Whatever manager Chris Turner said at half-time clearly worked as Wakefield were a much better team in the second half.Wakefield’s equaliser came when Penistone forgot one of the main rules of football – play to the whistle. Keeper Hunt played a long kick downfield and the home side felt one of their players was fouled in the middle of the park. The referee waved play on while their back line had stopped, feeling their protest would be accepted. The ball went through for Owiredu to score his second of the match, one on one with the keeper and slotting it home calmly.Seven minutes later and Owiredu nearly had his hat-trick, a diving cat-like save from the Penistone keeper denying his header. Soon after that captain Manny Katundu took a long shot at goal which was well saved. Wakefield were starting to knock on the door more often and the home keeper was defintely the busier of the two between the sticks.Mid-way through the second half, Penistone rode their luck as a clear handball in the area was denied by the referee. Chris Turner then decided it was time to change the forward line and push for glory. Mike Owusu and Nathan Weekes replaced Moore and Gashi in attack.There was a lot of action in the final six minutes of the match, not least of all the winning goal for Wakefield. That came first when the ball was thumped home by Hamelberg after 84 minutes from inside the box, sending the away support wild. Just after the re-start, Penistone had a chance to equalise with a free kick on the edge of the box but their shot was deflected wide. A minute later, Wakefield went down to ten men when Owusu went off with a hamstring injury with no further substitues available. Owiredu was also fouled as he continued to chase his hat-trick, caught in the face by a flailing arm while chasing down the wing with the offender lucky to stay on the field.In the end Wakefield weathered any storm thrown at them and clinched their first ever victory to the delight of the away fans. The style and flow of the games in the first three matches has helped the team and fans really bond already and it’s great to see such a passionate following so early in the club’s journey.One thing that is interesting to see is that the wingers are scoring more than the strikers so far with five of the eight goals so far courtesy of Alabi (2), Owiredu (2) and Hamelberg. The strikers Weekes and Moore have one apiece and centre-back Emmanuel has one from his late equaliser against Dodworth.Here are the thoughts of manager Christ Turner after a historic first victory:“I thought they (Penistone) were decent but we gave them two goals, they didn’t create anything. Their keeper made two top class saves to keep them in the match. Realistically, we should have won all our first three games. In the first half yesterday we didn’t start the game well. The second half was much better and we played the kind of football we are good at. There were times where Penistone couldn’t get out of their own half. We do have to stop giving away silly free kicks as by doing so we create pressure on ourselves. It was a great win for us and let’s face it any away win is a good win. The players are showing great character already this season. I’m happy with eight goals scored in three games but conceding six goals in the same period is not good.”