Saturday 26th October 2019
It was second against third as Wakefield AFC faced-off with Penistone Church Reserves on a rain-trodden day at the Dorothy Hyman Stadium, with both sides sitting level on points in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League prior to kick-off. The dreadful weather meant two things; the game would be played on the 4G pitch and both sides would have a chance to go top of the league, with league leaders Swinton having had their game rained off.
These sides last met in September, when Wakefield battled to a hard-fought 3-2 away win after Penistone had taken an early lead. Today’s fixture was a disappointing role reversal however, as Wakefield failed to capitalise on their own early lead, gained through returning striker Rayjon Moore’s clinical finish. Penistone took control of the second half with three goals scored from free-kicks. Substitute Redon Gashi scored his first goal of the season in the last minute, but it was nothing more than a consolation as Penistone ran out deserving 3-2 winners.
Manager Chris Turner, looking to achieve a sixth win in succession, made three changes to the team that had beaten South Kirkby in the league cup the week before. Goalkeeper Ryan Eades, excellent in the last three games, made way for Quinaceo Hunt who was fully recovered from international duty with Bermuda. Chris Sholu came in for Michael Ash at left back, with Marvin Emmanuel, Yemi Ayodele and Jean Merour all keeping their places in the remainder of the back four. Midfielders Jamie Hardwick, Manny Katundu and Mohammed Hamid played their third game in succession together, albeit in a slightly altered 4-3-3 formation that saw Hardwick at the base of midfield and Hamid playing slightly deeper than his usual central attacking midfield role. Thomas Ecaplier and Deji Alabi kept their places either side of Moore, who was playing his tenth game up front after missing the last game through injury.
The game started off in lightning fashion, and a sleeping Wakefield were lucky not to concede in the first minute when Penistone had a shot from point-blank range well-saved by Hunt. Perhaps awoken by the shock, the home side gradually started to take control of the game by dominating midfield through the excellent Hardwick, who looked to break up play and spread the ball around the pitch.
There were a number of stinging tackles early on and not a lot of time on the ball for either side, but this didn’t stop Wakefield taking an early lead in the fourth minute after some excellent football. Moore, now outright top-scorer with his seventh goal of the season, did well to win the ball in the air, which allowed Alabi to play him through on goal with an excellent pass. Moore then fooled the keeper with a clinical dinked finish in to the back of the net.
Wakefield were the better team in the first half, but chances were at a premium for both sides. The best for Wakefield was almost a mirror image of the first goal, this time well-saved, as Moore looked to chip the keeper from an excellent through ball from Hardwick. Despite a good first half, the warning signs were there for Wakefield, who failed to defend dangerous crosses. One of which, in the 31st minute, should have been the equaliser as the excellent Hunt made his second save from point blank range.
In a game of two halves, Penistone came out quicker to every ball after the break and looked like they had an extra man on the pitch. The away side, whose manager changed formation mid game to match Wakefield’s 4-3-3, were on top throughout and had good chances to equalise. The best were a shot hit somehow over the bar when their player had the goal at his mercy in the 54th minute, and the other another great save, this time with Hunt’s feet, in the 59th minute after a Penistone player had been put through on goal.
Despite Penistone’s dominance, Wakefield were largely masters of their own demise, with the same early season defensive gremlins resurfacing. Each of the goals conceded stemmed from the home team giving silly free-kicks away in dangerous areas. This was perhaps unavoidable, as Wakefield were pushed further and further back and lost their shape due to the relentless pressure. These issues were compounded by subsequent slack defending. Penistone’s equaliser in the 65th minute saw the goalscorer rise above the defence to head in to the top corner after a good free-kick delivery.
Although the home side were kept quiet, with club captain and usual instigator Katundu unable to affect the game, they did have a good chance to re-take the lead in the 67th minute. It was again Moore, who saw his effort pushed wide after an excellent chipped through ball from Alabi. That was the best moment for Wakefield, whose usually lethal wingers were also kept in check by the away side.
The visitors struck the hammer blow in the 76th minute, again from a free-kick, this time a good strike from the left edge of the penalty area in to the bottom corner of a helpless Hunt’s goal. More misery was to follow, as Penistone consolidated their lead and the three points in the 88th minute from another free-kick that saw the ball bundled in to the net at the back post. Redon Gashi, on for the injured Hamid did score with his own rising header in the last minute, after rare good wing play that saw Hardwick deliver a pin point cross for the striker to get his first goal in eight games. There was no miraculous equaliser though, as Penistone held on to end Wakefield’s seven game unbeaten run in all competitions.
After the game, Chris Turner said: “[It was a] great game today, a 3-2 defeat to a very good Penistone reserves side. Both teams were committed and both produced some excellent football.
Penistone are [an] excellent grass roots club who I admire for [their] footballing philosophy and organisation both on and off the pitch.”
The 3-2 defeat leaves Wakefield in third on 18 points, but with many of the teams around them having the benefit of games in hand. The defeat should be put in to perspective; it is only the clubs second loss in 12 games in what is their inaugural season. The team are still learning and developing, and they will focus their attention on returning to winning ways in our next game which is a third-round cup tie at home against Wombwell Main FC. Kick-off is at 13:30 on Saturday 2nd November 2019 at the Dorothy Hyman Stadium.
Austin Ainsworth
Half Time: 1-0
Full Time: 2-3
Goals
4m, Rayjon Moore
65m, Penistone
76m, Penistone
88m, Penistone
89m, Redon Gashi
Starting XI:
Quinacio Hunt, Jean Merour (MOTM), Yemi Ayodete, Marvin Emmanuel, Chris Sholu, Jamie Hardwick, Manny Katundu (captain), Mohammed Hamid, Deji Alabi, Thomas Eclapier, Rayjon Moore
Subs Used:
62m, Redon Gashi for Mohammed Hamid
Stats:
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 4
Shots off Target: 2
Second Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 2
Penistone Church Reserves
First Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 0
Second Half
Shots on Target: 7
Shots off Target: 3
Very good accurate report well done
CT