Saturday 17th February 2024 | Austin Ainsworth
After drawing their previous two games, Wakefield AFC started the last week in second place in the NCEL, behind play-off rivals Beverley on goal difference only. Beverley were one of the sides to take points off Wakefield in those last two fixtures – in what was a testing, to and fro affair – and things were set to get even more difficult for Wakefield as they visited their other main rivals at the top of the league, Parkgate, on Tuesday evening.
The Rotherham side, three points behind Wakefield in third place prior to the game, are the clear favourites for top spot this season, with their points haul gathered from just 25 games so far, seven fewer than Wakefield. With this the first meeting between the two sides this season, the long wait to see two of the league’s top teams face off had served to increase the excitement around the fixture, and that showed as Parkgate saw a season best attendance of 205; a vast contingent of which were Wakefield fans hoping to see their side become just the fifth team to take points off Parkgate, and the first since Horbury managed a draw back in November.
As expected, there was a ferocious intensity to proceedings right from kick-off, with goalscoring opportunities at a premium for both sides as much of the action played out in the middle third of the pitch. Parkgate, notable for their relentless and perfectly synchronised pressing, garnered most of their first half joy in transition when winning the ball high. And, despite there being little to separate the two sides in the first half, the home side did find themselves in front through that high press, when Silas Valladolid-Collins pounced on Joel Spence’s under-hit back-pass to finish past Wakefield ‘keeper George Bristol when one-v-one.
Wakefield managed to step things up a gear in the second half and were dogged in their pursuit of an equaliser. And, aside from a couple of scares on the counter-attack, they were the superior side; so much so that Parkgate resorted to delay tactics very early on in the half. They were unable to stop Mason Rubie however, who took matters in to this own hands in the 75th minute when he thundered a vicious, swerving shot from 25 yards out that left the Parkgate goalkeeper no chance.
Wakefield had the bit between their teeth but, even with a numerical advantage in the closing stages – after Parkgate’s goalscorer Valladolid-Collins saw red for a foul on Oliver Rodriguez – were unable to muster any real chances on goal; Jack Durkin going closest just before time with a shot that fizzed wide of the post from distance.
Parkgate seemed happy to settle for the point, and that was testament to the caliber of Wakefield’s performance in a dominant second half. Although the solitary point was of little use with regard to any hopes of Wakefield pipping Parkgate to first spot, it did move them back to the top of the league for the time being, with the caveat of those games in hand that the sides below them have.
Nonetheless, confidence was rightly brimming ahead of Saturday’s trip to Athersley Recreation, with Wakefield also bolstered by new signings in the form of goalkeeper Ryan Musselwhite and centre-back T’nique Fishley, both of whom went straight in to the starting 11. Defender Aaron Pilkington also regained his starting spot in what was his 70th appearance for the club.
After a confident and commanding start which saw good chances for Ben Gelder and Slater Barnes, Pilkington marked his landmark with his first Wakefield goal in the 19th minute. It was a crisp move as Jaydan Sandhu dropped between the centre-backs to drill a pass up to Rubie on the edge of the box. Just as Wakefield’s manager Gabe Mozzini had instructed Barnes to “tuck-in”, Rubie’s deft flick found the winger, who turned and played Pilkington in on goal. The defender dummied on to his weaker foot before finishing well to the near post to put the visitors ahead.
Despite boasting the lion’s share of possession and having several half-chances, Wakefield had to settle for just the one goal half-time lead. That lead was doubled soon after the re-start and came just as Athersley had had their best, and only, sight of the Wakefield goal with a glancing header that went just wide of the post. Wakefield went straight up the other end via a beautiful ball out from Durkin that played Barnes in behind the Athersley defence on the left. He crossed to the back post, where Rubie – continuing his goalscoring trend – was on hand to head home for his 16th goal in 36 appearances this season.
Rubie could have extended his position at the top of the Wakefield goalscoring chart moments later when the Atherlsey goalkeeper made a fine double save at the near post to deny him, and then Ben Gelder. The third Wakefield goal did come shortly after the hour mark through the returning Sebastian Losa, substituted on for Gelder just moments before. The goal was another fine demonstration of Wakefield’s ability to progress from back to front with a lightning change of pace, as Sandhu again dropped deep to play a perfect pass out to Rubie. The latter then added an assist to his goal, by squaring for Losa to finish with his first touch of the game.
It could have been 4-0 to Wakefield were it not for a tight offside call that denied captain Durkin a diving-headed goal in the closing stages. But ultimately, Losa’s seventh goal of the season, in his first appearance for more than a month, was more than enough to secure Wakefield the deserved three points.
After three draws in a row, it was a welcome return to winning ways for Wakefield; a result that sees them remain top of the league, now two points ahead of Shirebrook who moved up to second. Wakefield will now seek to start another winning streak, with an inviting run of fixtures ahead after the tests of recent weeks. The first of those comes this Saturday the 24th February at home to 16th placed Worsbrough Bridge Athletic; kick-off 15:00PM.
Parkgate Match Stats
Half Time: 1-0
Full Time: 1-1
Attendance: 205
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
George Bristol – Jordan Helliwell, Jack Durkin (C), James Morris, Callum Charlton – Joel Spence, Jaydan Sandhu – Mason Rubie, Oliver Rodriguez, Slater Barnes – Ben Gelder
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
46m, Cameron Barnett for Joel Spence
76m, Aaron Pilkington for Jaydan Sandhu
84m, Alexander King for Oliver Rodriguez
89m, Ben Holmes for Callum Charlton
Possession:
Parkgate 32% – 68% Wakefield AFC
Passes Completed:
Parkgate 96 – 186 Wakefield AFC
Goals:
27m, Silas Valladolid-Collins
75m, Mason Rubie
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Joel Spence (Yellow)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shot off Target: 5
Parkgate
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 3
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 2
Athersley Recreation Match Stats
Half Time: 0-1
Full Time: 0-3
Attendance: 170
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Ryan Musselwhite – Aaron Pilkington, Jack Durkin (C), T’nique Fishley, Callum Charlton – Jaydan Sandhu, Jordan Helliwell – Mason Rubie, Oliver Rodriguez, Slater Barnes – Ben Gelder
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
38m, Cameron Barnett for Jordan Helliwell
66m, Sebastian Losa for Ben Gelder
Possession:
Athersley Recreation 19% – 81% Wakefield AFC
Passes Completed:
Athersley Recreation 91 – 409 Wakefield AFC
Goals:
19m, Aaron Pilkington
49m, Mason Rubie
67m, Sebastian Losa
Wakefield AFC Assists:
19m, Slater Barnes
49m, Slater Barnes
67m, Mason Rubie
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Jaydan Sandhu (Yellow)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 7
Second Half
Shots on Target: 4
Shot off Target: 4
Athersley Recreation
First Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shots off Target: 1