Saturday 18th December 2021 | Austin Ainsworth
There was to be no Christmas cheer for Wakefield AFC as they travelled to face Sheffield Town FC
in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League, as both had to settle for a hotly contested
draw.
In what was both sides’ last fixture of 2021, Wakefield saw no repeat of their previous incarnation’s
prolific past visits to Fir Vale with new faces and – having rebranded from Burngreave FC since the
two sides last met – a new name providing a new challenge; Sheffield Town were more than a
match for Wakefield throughout.
Adam Lockwood made three changes to the side victorious in the cup two weeks ago; as new
signing Henry Kendrick made his debut for the club in goal and Owen Kirman came in for Mason
Rubie on the wing. Top-scorer Jake Morrison was absent, which meant Billy Mole moved further
forward in to a traditional no. 9 position and Daniel Youel came in to support him.
Kirman had the first chance of the game almost from the start, as he showed electric pace to run in
down the left and test the goalkeeper with a stinging shot at the near post. That was a sign of
Wakefield’s intent, as they looked dangerous down both channels every time either Kirman or Red
Bates ran at the Sheffield backline.
Sheffield had their own chances early on too, twice finding time and space in the box to call
Kendrick in to action with two good, close-range saves. Sheffield’s biggest chance of the first half
wasn’t an attempt on goal though, as the referee denied them from gaining a man advantage in the
23rd minute when James Morris was extremely fortunate to evade a red card for a high, late and
robust tackle. Sheffield Town protested as their player went off injured, but the referee was
unmoved as captain Morris saw only yellow.
Both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout the remainder of the half, until
Wakefield started to get a foothold in the game later on. Bates and Mole both had good chances to
take the lead but for the final end-product letting them down after good, incisive moves. The two
did eventually combine in the 40th minute however, as Mole scored his seventh goal in as many
games.
Bates was the creator with yet another assist in a season full of many from him, as he found space
on the left to cross towards the back post. The Sheffield goalkeeper could only parry the cross in to
the path of Mole at the back post, who finished with a tap-in in to the net. Roles reversed moments
later when Wakefield had a big chance to grab a two goal cushion before half time. Mole nodded
the ball down to Bates in the box, whose audacious half-volley went flying past the face of goal.
The warning signs were there for Wakefield going in to the second half, with missed chances in
previous games showing the danger of slender leads. That was the case as Mole failed to
capitalise when he beat the ‘keeper to the ball on the edge of the box. With the net wide open, but
the ball bouncing; his attempt at a difficult half-volley on the run went narrowly wide of the post.
Sheffield started to build in to the game, pushing further forward and becoming more aggressive in
their press. Their reward came in the 56th minute when they levelled the scores. Hendrick initially
made an excellent save from close range, which Wakefield were unable to clear. The Sheffield
Town goalscorer was then able to open up space for himself in the box when latching on to the
rebound, and left Hendrick no chance as he smashed the ball in to the back of the net.
A concerned Lockwood had seen enough, and switched the side’s formation to a 3-5-2 around the
hour mark as he made changes. Wakefield did slightly shade the play from then on, and as the
game moved in to the last 10 minutes had several moments that will have ultimately left them
feeling as though they might have won the game.
First, they were denied what seemed a certain penalty as Blackburn ran in to the edge of the box
on the overlap. He was first to the ball and touched past the Sheffield defender, who clattered in to
him; prompting wild protestation from the away side which fell on the referee’s deaf ears.
Substitute Mohammed Abou was then heavily involved in stoppage time, when he first ran in on to
a Billy Mole volleyed cross at the back post. Wakefield had the win in their sights as Abou headed
the ball down, but the impressive Sheffield goalkeeper somehow scrambled to save with his feet.
That wasn’t even the last chance as, right at the death, Abou appeared to be knocked to his feet by
a late challenge when about to shoot from close range. The ball fell to Mole, who had a difficult
shot on the turn saved, as the penalty shout was ignored.
In the context of the game, the result shouldn’t be too much of a disappointment for Wakefield
given Sheffield’s own missed chances and the away side’s slight fortune in escaping an early red
card. However, in the context of the league the result will leave more of a sour taste as Wakefield
missed the chance to move up another position, remaining in seventh, one point and place above
Sheffield Town.
Wakefield now don’t return to action until the new year, when they have a home draw in the cup
against Middleton FC at The Millennium Stadium, Featherstone on Saturday 8th January 2022:
kick-off 14:00PM.
Stats
Half Time: 0-1
Full Time: 1-1
Attendance: 30
Man Of The Match: Morgan Butcher
Starting XI:
Henry Kendrick – Luke Blackburn, James Morris (C), Josh Lockwood, Cory Woodward – Red
Bates, Jock Curran, Morgan Butcher, Owen Kirman – Daniel Youel, Billy Mole
Goals:
40m, Billy Mole
Assists:
40m, Red Bates
Subs Used:
55m, Fabio Sana Fad for Jock Curran
66m, Bradley Swain for Owen Kirman
85m, Mohammed Abou for Red Bates
Cards:
James Morris – Yellow
Daniel Youel – Yellow
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 4
Shots off Target: 3
Second Half
Shots on Target: 4
Shot off Target: 5
Sheffield Town FC
First Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 2
Second Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 1