Saturday 28th December 2019 | Austin Ainsworth
There was no game for the Wakefield AFC first team for the second week running, which meant the focus was again on Steve Adams’ rapidly improving Wakefield reserves side. They visited Harworth Colliery Reserves in the Central Midlands League Division One North, hoping for another win after the first points of their season in the last two games; a draw and then a win last time out that moved them off the bottom of the table into 10th.
Fans would have been forgiven for doubting that the reserves could claim their second successive win in the league, against a Harworth team that were sixth at the start of play, when it became apparent that a much-changed side would be fielded due to a lack of playing personnel. The reason for this is that Wakefield have a unique philosophy whereby the vast majority of their players are sourced from within the clubs own international academy. Unfortunately, at this festive time of year that meant that most of the players had returned home to their families and were unavailable.
The club, always strong in the face of adversity, pulled off a Christmas miracle in signing eight new players in time for the fixture and Steve Adams gave starts to four of them. Incredibly, the team of almost strangers put in a fluid display full of skill, control and tenacity to claim a rasping 3-1 win after goals from two of the new recruits.
The manager stuck with a 4-4-2 formation and named Krystian Drobek in goal, fresh from his own debut last week. Jean-Claude Ngoyi continued at right-back and Yemi Ayodele provided some first team experience at centre-back. He was partnered by midfielder Danny Kabeya, with new recruit Shoaib Nazir at left-back. The midfield had an unfamiliar look about it as three of the other new recruits started; Khalid Suleiman at right-wing, Pierre Pinnock at centre-midfield and Moussa Diouf at left-wing. Last week’s man-of-the-match Sopula Ubah provided some consistency as the other central-midfielder, as did Amos Kabeya and Alaji-Baharu Jabbi who partnered each other in attack.
Wakefield made a good start and instantly took control of possession, overcoming what appeared to be a heavy and broken-up playing surface. Their fast start and early pressure was rewarded in the seventh minute when the lively-looking partnership down the left of Nazir and Diouf combined to expose the home side’s defence and deliver a dangerous, looping cross that their goalkeeper failed to deal with. For the second week in succession, the predatory Amos Kabeya timed his run to perfection and positioned himself perfectly at the back post to nod the visitors in to the lead.
Wakefield’s momentum – created largely by the excellent Ubah’s control of midfield and an equally solid performance by Danny Kabeya and Ayodele in defence – was halted in the 11th minute when Drobak made a calamitous error when trying to clear a long ball over the top. As the Harworth player chased the ball down, Drobak came out of his area in an effort to clear the ball. However, he contrived to kick it directly at his teammate who had been shielding the ball, causing it to bounce kindly in to the area. The Harworth player capitalised by pouncing on the loose ball to tap in to the open net from the penalty spot.
Wakefield were undeterred by the slip-up and continued to pass the ball well whilst also rising to the physical challenge set by Harworth. They had good opportunities to re-take the lead, the best shortly before half time when Amos Kabeya again showed good movement to latch on to an excellent through ball from Pinnock but he was unable to finish.
Ryan Eades, fresh from his foray in to midfield last time out, returned to his natural position as he replaced Drobek in goal at half-time in what was a planned substitution. The rest of the team remained unchanged in both personnel and style, as they continued to play with confidence in the early stages of the second period. A moment of real quality arrived in the 63rd minute when captain for the day Amos Kabeya – whose continuous smart movement and hold-up play had caused the hosts an array of problems – met a pass in to his feet on the edge of box with his back to goal. With both fleet of foot and mind, he flicked the ball back to the young debutant Pinnock, who hit a thunderous first-time shot straight in to the top left corner of the goal, nearly breaking the net in the process.
Not long after, Wakefield were dealt a damaging blow as Ubah succumbed to injury. It was an unfortunate end to the game for him, after an excellent performance full of aggression, skill and precision throughout the game. It was also unfortunate for Wakefield, who lost their anchor in midfield at a time when they were looking to see out the game. Adams was creative in his approach, as he replaced Ubah with newcomer Matt Price. Price came on to partner Amos Kabeya in attack, as Jabbi moved back in to an unfamiliar defensive-midfield role. Nonetheless, after an excellent display up-front, Jabbi continued to display both his intelligence and physicality in brilliantly marshalling the midfield.
Wakefield had good chances to secure the points, first through Suleiman who also had an accomplished debut with a menacing performance down the right wing. He was put clean through on goal and had only the goalkeeper to beat, but struck his shot straight at him. Not long after, Amos Kabeya had the opportunity to cap a fine individual display with another goal as he was also put clean through with another defence splitting pass from the midfield. Instead of shooting first time, he delayed and then struck the ball over the bar under increasing pressure from the home side’s defence.
Wakefield did consolidate their lead in the 73rd minute, as the lively Price got in behind the opposition defence and smartly laid the ball off for Suleiman who, at the second time of asking, didn’t miss the opportunity for a debut goal as he tapped the ball home to make it 3-1. Wakefield were able to see out the game comfortably, not before another debut, this time for Ira Bakuru who came on for man-of-the-match Amos Kabeya.
The win, the reserves third in succession, moves them up to sixth in the table, above the defeated Harworth Colliery. It also means they are now undefeated in four, their best run of form. If that doesn’t inspire confidence, then the host of excellent displays should do. Ubah, Jabbi and newcomers Suleiman, Nazir and Pinnock have already been mentioned and were excellent. Amos Kabeya also showed his experience in what was a man of the match performance, whilst his brother Danny put in a commanding display in an unfamiliar centre-back position.
Many of these players will now be looking to fight their way in to the first team, who are next in action away at High Green Villa on Saturday 11/01/2020 at 14:00. The reserves also have an opportunity to continue their momentum when they welcome Chesterfield Town to the Dorothy Hyman Stadium, kick-off also at 14:00 on 11/01/2020.
Half Time: 1-1
Full Time: 1-3