Saturday 15th January 2022 | Austin Ainsworth
Wakefield AFC bounced in to 2022 with a new manager on board, and their only New Year’s resolution to beat all before them. That has so far been the case with a 5-1 victory over Middleton FC in the cup last week, and an impressive 3-0 victory in midweek over Wombwell Main F.C. in their return to Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League action.
Two goals from Jake Morrison and another from Mason Rubie in that last fixture saw Wakefield head in to this weekend’s league game with Ecclesfield Red Rose FC bearing down on the top four, four points behind Red Rose in fifth and with games in hand. That meant a positive result was key for new manager Gabriel Mozzini in Wakefield’s league quest.
He named a similar side to that which was triumphant against Wombwell, with only Owen Kirman coming in for Harley Blankley on the wing. Aside from that, the only change to the team sheet was in player positions, as Josh Lockwood moved back in to central-defence and Bradley Swain went the other way out to full-back.
Wakefield may have gone in to the game with the reverse fixture – a 2-1 loss, perhaps Wakefield’s most disappointing game of the season so far – fresh in their mind. This may have contributed to a cagey start to the game, with neither side showing any real threat of taking the lead. A Billy Mole half-chance which was volleyed wide, and a Red Bates free kick delivered straight down the Ecclesfield ‘keepers throat were as close as anyone got to opening the scores in the opening quarter.
Ecclesfield had their own moments on the counter-attack and at one stage hearts were in mouths when Wakefield goalkeeper Henry Kendrick sprinted all of 40 yards out of his goal to sweep up one such attack. He just beat the attacker to the ball with a robust challenge and then impressively rose to his feet to execute another sliding tackle to stop the second Ecclesfield attacker from winning the loose ball.
Wakefield should have taken the lead in the 15th minute through top-scorer Jake Morrison, as Kirman delivered a threatening ball across the face of goal, which somehow evaded Morrison for the tap-in on the six yard line. That was one of the only occasions Wakefield’s wingers were able to get in-behind the Red Rose defence, as the away side looked to frustrate with their defensive set-up.
The game threatened to go the same way as the reverse fixture, with Ecclesfield sitting so deep Wakefield needed an excavator to unearth a route to goal; the away side finding joy in letting Wakefield have the ball in midfield areas and waiting to pounce with quick counters from any loose balls. That prompted Mozzini in to changes midway through the half, as he dropped Mole from his usual attacking midfield position in to a deep, playmaker role in the hope of opening up the resolute Red Rose defence.
The half wore on in similar, frustrating fashion until the deadlock was finally broken just before half-time. It was a familiar name on the score sheet as Morrison added to his 10 league goals with a clinical finish. Captain Luke Blackburn delivered a cross in from deep which the Ecclesfield defender headed away. The ball fell only as far as Morrison who charged in from the left and smashed a left-footed shot past the goalkeeper at the near post; taking him to an impressive 17 goals in 12 games in all competitions.
That well-timed goal would have made the half-time atmosphere more positive amongst the 182 freezing fans; it didn’t however seem to have any real impact on the second half as chances remained at a premium for both sides. Ecclesfield waited until the 76th minute for their best moment as their striker ran in behind the Wakefield backline from a cleared, long-ball. A perfectly timed last-ditch tackle from Lockwood was enough to block the point-blank shot and prompted unfounded appeals for a penalty from the away camp.
That moment served as a reminder of Wakefield’s slender lead and the game remained a tense affair until Woodward moved to secure the points with a well-taken goal in the 82nd minute. The defender had found himself up-field for a Wakefield set-piece. The ball was initially cleared before it was worked back out to substitute Harley Blankley on the left. He delivered the ball in from deep towards Lockwood, who tried to flick it on but didn’t make contact. His defensive partner Woodward was on hand to chest the ball down on to his favoured left foot and away from the defender, before finishing expertly in to the far corner to give Wakefield the two goal cushion with his fifth of the season.
The match was comfortable from then on with substitutes Blankley and Wilberforce Ocran having good chances to extend the score even further, denied only by good saves from the Ecclesfield goalkeeper. It mattered not as the win took Wakefield to just one point behind Ecclesfield, but with three games in hand; Wakefield’s current league position now fifth and closing in on the leading pack of Penistone, Swinton and Dodworth.
Wakefield now turn their attentions to their next league fixture which is away to Hepworth United on Saturday 22nd January 2022: kick-off 14:00PM.
Stats
Half Time: 1-0
Full Time: 2-0
Attendance: 182
Starting XI:
Henry Kendrick – Bradley Swain, Cory Woodward, Josh Lockwood, Luke Blackburn (C) – Red Bates, Morgan Butcher, Daniel Youel, Owen Kirman – Billy Mole, Jake Morrison
Goals:
46m, Jake Morrison
82m, Cory Woodward
Assists:
82m, Harley Blankley
Subs Used:
60m, Mason Rubie for Bradley Swain
67m, Wilberforce Ocran for Owen Kirman
70m, Harley Blankley for Jake Morrison
Cards:
Red Bates – Yellow
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 7
Second Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shot off Target: 6
Ecclesfield Red Rose FC
First Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shots off Target: 2