Saturday 7th January 2023 | Austin Ainsworth
Wakefield AFC headed in to 2023 with their only resolution being to continue their unlikely promotion charge in the Northern Counties East League Division One, after ending 2022 fifth and in the final play-off spot following a 4-3 victory over Armthorpe Welfare in the post-Christmas Bank Holiday fixtures.
As has been the story in Wakefield’s recent run of victories, they made hard work of that victory and found themselves hanging on at the end, following goals from Lewis Stephens, Billy Mole, Cory Woodward and man-of-the-match in that game Robbie Miller.
Nonetheless, Wakefield travelled away to seventh placed Brigg Town on Saturday with a chance to make it five wins from five in the league. Brigg, just six points shy of Wakefield at the start of play, were looking to avenge a 2-1 loss in the reverse fixture back in August, whilst also seeking to bounce back from a New Year’s Eve loss to Harrogate Railway in their last game.
Wakefield manager Gabe Mozzini named a similar line-up to the one victorious against Armthorpe, with the added bonus of goalkeeper Henry Kendrick’s welcome return from injury seeing him make his first start since October. Recent signing Haydn Ward made his second appearance in succession, whilst Kaydan Henry made his first start in the heart of defence meaning the former moved out to right-back.
It was a cagey start to the game on a bobbly and broken Brigg pitch, with little goal-mouth action to excite the crowd of 215, of which at least 40 of those were a strong, vociferous contingent of away supporters. In truth, Brigg had the better of the opening stages, often finding space to counter from midfield, and were narrowly the more threatening of the two sides. And, in the 28th minute, Kendrick made the first of several fine saves throughout the game when he reacted quickly to deflect a close-range, goal-bound shot wide of his post with an outstretched leg.
That moment may have served to spark Wakefield in to life, who had passed the ball well enough but showed little attacking intent up to that point. Wakefield’s first sight of goal did eventually come minutes later, and there were no surprises it was top-scorer Mole who was on the end of it. Defender Miller had found himself advancing through midfield when he played an excellent chipped, through-ball over the defence. Mole struck it first time on the volley with his left foot, but his menacing shot rose above the bar from what was a difficult angle.
As the half moved in to the final five minutes, Wakefield showed their clinical side to turn the game with two quick-fire goals which no doubt changed both manager’s half-time team talks. Wakefield had initially won themselves a corner in the 41st minute after Woodward almost scored his second free-kick in as many games; the Brigg ‘keeper tipping it over the bar with his fingertips.
Mason Rubie took the corner short from the left, in to Jaydan Sandhu just on the edge of the penalty box. The latter was pressured well by the Brigg defence and the ball was snatched away, only to fall in to the feet of Rubie who had been rushing to meet the return pass. He showed great instinct to strike the ball first-time with his left foot, and duly left the goalkeeper no chance as it snuck just inside of the far post; the goal Rubie’s third of the season.
It is said a side is most vulnerable when they have just scored, not so as Wakefield went straight back on the attack through winger Kieran Ceesay down the left. He showed great close-control to weave in and out of several Brigg defenders as he worked his way in to the penalty box. The last of those attempting to tackle him lunged desperately to snatch the ball, but was too slow and tripped the Wakey attacker.
Mole, following an uncharacteristic penalty miss in the last game away at Armthorpe, showed his character to step up without hesitation. The resultant kick was executed with finesse, as he sent the ‘keeper the wrong way and curled his shot just inside of the goalkeeper’s right post. The goal extending Wakefield’s lead and his own lead at the top of his side’s goalscoring charts; the no. 10 now boasting 17 goals in 19 games this season.
Despite that late gloss added to Wakefield’s first half, Mozzini still opted to tweak things slightly in the second as the away side shifted to a 3-4-1-2 formation; Ward moving in to a back three, Rubie and Woodward to wing-back and Ceesay in to a more central attacking role alongside Stephens.
The shift brought more control for Wakefield, with Brigg largely kept at arms length except for a quick counter attack in the 53rd minute, which culminated in a fierce shot just kissing the outside of Kendrick’s post.
It was ultimately Wakefield who scored the third though, as Stephens continued his fine form since joining from Maltby by bagging his sixth goal in six league appearances. It was a sweeping counter attack initiated by Ceesay who had found space in the centre of the pitch. He drifted a ball out to the advancing run of Woodward down the left, whose teasing cross had the entire Brigg backline turned. Stephens latched on and saw his initial shot blocked by the goalkeeper from close range. The ball fell back to him though to complete a simple tap-in to put Wakefield 3-0 up.
The game wasn’t quite finished there however, as Brigg won a contentious penalty kick in the 69th minute. Ward had been jockeying his man in the box, who had seemingly given as good as he got. There was no obvious sign of a blatant push or shirt pull, however the referee stunned the away side when pointing to the spot as he blew his whistle for the most innocuous of incidents. To compound matters Mole, so aggrieved at the decision, found himself yellow carded and sin-binned for his protestations to the referee.
The kick was well-taken to Kendrick’s right, however the no. 1 capped a fine return to the side with an unbelievable lunge to tip the ball wide with his outstretched fingertip. Wakefield’s celebrations were wild but they quickly composed themselves for the task ahead, faced with 10 of the final 20 minutes at a numerical disadvantage.
However, as the light faded, so did any hopes of a Brigg comeback; their numerical advantage barely noticeable as Wakefield – in contrast to recent victories – showed brilliant control and composure to see out the game without incident. In addition to the three points, Wakefield also secured their first clean-sheet since Kendrick’s last appearance in late October; a deserved man-of-the-match the reward for his part in this one.
There were several contenders for the accolade though, as Wakefield’s fine team performance put down a marker for the year ahead. In the context of the league the victory is impressive, away to a Brigg side who are regulars in the play-off spots and one of Wakefield’s main contenders for one this year. Wakefield remain fifth, but are now just one point shy of Horbury Town and four clear of Staveley Miners, both of whom have played more games than Wakefield.
With confidence rightly booming, Wakefield now head in to a midweek fixture at home to Ollerton Town on Tuesday 10th January: kick-off 19:45PM at The Millennium Stadium, Featherstone.
Armthorpe Welfare Match Stats
Half Time: 2-3
Full Time: 3-4
Attendance: 120
MOTM: Robbie Miller
Wakefield Starting XI:
Lloyd Horridge – Tom Booth, Haydn Ward, Robbie Miller, Cory Woodward – Danny Youel (C), Billy Mole, Jaydan Sandhu – Kieran Ceesay, Lewis Stephens, Mason Rubie
Subs Used:
72m, Taylor Rayan for Robbie Miller
90m, Owen Kirman for Kieran Ceesay
Goals:
18m, Lewis Stephens
20m, Rhys Plater (Armthorpe Welfare)
25m, Billy Mole
39m, Cory Woodward
45m, Cian Guest (Armthorpe Welfare)
53m, Robbie Miller
84m, Matthew Hughes (Armthorpe Welfare)
Wakefield Assists
18m, Danny Youel
25m, `Tom Booth
53m, Mason Rubie
Wakefield Cards:
Haydn Ward (Yellow)
Billy Mole (Yellow)
Attempts:
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 7
Shots off Target: 5
Second Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shot off Target: 5
Armthorpe Welfare
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 2
Brigg Town Match Stats
Half Time: 0-2
Full Time: 0-3
Attendance: 215
MOTM: Henry Kendrick
Wakefield Starting XI:
Henry Kendrick – Haydn Ward, Kaydan Henry, Robbie Miller, Cory Woodward – Danny Youel (C), Billy Mole, Jaydan Sandhu – Kieran Ceesay, Lewis Stephens, Mason Rubie
Subs Used:
64m, Morgan Butcher for Lewis Stephens
76m, Jordan Chippendale for Robbie Miller
85m, Owen Kirman for Kieran Ceesay
85m, Harley Blankley for Jaydan Sandhu
Goals:
41m, Mason Rubie
43m, Billy Mole (Pen)
63m, Lewis Stephens
Wakefield Assists
63m, Cory Woodward
Wakefield Cards:
Billy Mole (Yellow – Sin Bin)
Attempts:
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shot off Target: 3
Brigg Town
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 2
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 7