Saturday 4th January 2025 | Austin Ainsworth
The freezing weather was not enough to curtail the NCEL Division One’s hottest game of the season, as Wakefield AFC’s trip to Horbury Town was thankfully one of the few games to go ahead on Saturday in front of what was the biggest crowd in the league this season.
545 fans made the trip to see seventh placed Wakefield take on the league leaders, who started the game 18 points ahead of Wakefield, having played four games more. With that in mind, aside from this fixture already being both sides biggest game of the season, it had the feel of a real “six pointer” prior to kick-off; Wakefield knowing that a win would put them right back in the mix should they also make good use of their games in hand, whilst Horbury probably viewed the game as a chance to further cement their position as heavy favourites for the league title.
Wakefield manager Steve Bodle made just one change to the side that drew 0-0 with Harrogate Railway last time out – a result that saw their nine match winning run come to an end – with Nana Nyarko coming in at left-back for Callum Charlton in a strong looking Wakefield side that remained largely unchanged from the team responsible for a 10 match unbeaten run in the league.
Horbury made a fast start and were immediately in on the left wing, with a shot at the near post well blocked by Owen Evans in the Wakefield goal. Further chances came for Horbury in the ensuing minutes with Evans and the defensive pairing of Chris Salt and captain Brad McGowan kept busy in front of him. The two looked every bit as imperious as in recent games, with Salt laying down an early marker with a crunching tackle on ex-Wakey star Billy Mole.
Horbury perhaps just edged a finely balanced, competitive first half but could find no way through Wakefield, who had fewer, but better quality chances on goal. The first came after 11 minutes, and saw the visitors take the lead through winger Curtis Morrison, who scored his third goal in four games since joining the club. Nyarko launched a long throw-in from the left on to the head of striker Shay Evans-Booth. He nodded the ball over to the back post where Morrison controlled first with his knee, and then with his left foot to open up the space for an exquisite, curling shot up into the far corner of the goal.
An increasingly feisty contest became end-to-end as the half wore on, and Horbury had chances to equalise towards the half-hour mark, first with a skied volley, and then when a good counter-attack saw their striker run in on goal, only for the ball to bobble up as he shot – the poor connection allowing Evans to make another good save.
It was Wakefield however, despite Horbury looking the more productive side, who had the best chance to score again before half-time. Salt stepped out from defence to expertly clear the ball from the edge of his box, that clearance falling to Evans-Booth on the halfway line. He played a quick, first-time pass for Jaydan Sandhu to beat the offside trap and race through on goal. Sandhu gave the ‘keeper the eyes and slotted it low to his left, only for the ball to come off the inside of the post, trickle across the line and then come back out off the other upright.
Horbury were even more front-footed in a second half which started much the same way as the first did. Their danger man Gibril Bojang raced down the right wing and glided past substitute Kenan McKenzie-Grey to cut-in to the box. He then knocked the ball past the covering McGowan, who put in a robust challenge to ease him out of the way for the ball to roll in to the path of Evans. The appeals for a penalty were manic from the home contingent, but the referee appeared unmoved as Wakefield got the rub of the green with the contentious decision.
Morgan James entered the fray for Wakefield in place of winger Callum Brooks, with Bodle shifting his side to a compact, 4-2-2-2 formation to aid in their rearguard action. The shift did also provide an outlet, with Morrison moving up front, alongside Evans-Booth; a change that did see a momentary shift in momentum, as Wakefield managed to get out of their half for longer periods of play.
One of those moments saw a good chance on the hour mark for Evans-Booth. He raced on to a pass down the left and ingeniously slid in to get his foot to the ball first and execute a lob over the goalkeeper all in one motion – the effort going just over the bar and on to the roof of the net.
The hosts came back at Wakefield though and should have equalised following a free-kick from the right. The ball in was knocked down to their top-scorer James Cusworth on the six yard line, who was unusually profligate in front of goal as he sliced his half-volleyed effort wide of the goal.
Horbury then had a succession of attempts on goal minutes later, with Evans eventually stretching to tip a looping header just wide after Wakefield had struggled to clear. He saved his best for the end of the game though when, two minutes from time, Horbury’s Bojang turned on to his left foot from the right edge of the box and curled a shot towards goal, only for Evans to backtrack and get a stretching fingertip to divert the ball over the bar.
As the game moved toward four minutes of injury time, Wakefield predictably had their own chances to seal the points, as Horbury became more and more desperate in committing men forward. Substitute Kiyani Morris had a good opportunity when he latched on to a clearance from deep to round the goalkeeper, but fluffed his lines when trying to shoot from a narrow angle. He also had a half chance on the edge of the box after a good counter fell to him, but the shot was well blocked following the attack that could have seen Wakefield shoot from deep with the Horbury goalkeeper having gone up for a corner kick.
It mattered not, as Wakefield held on for a memorable three points to extend their winning run to 11 and move back into the play-off spots. Meanwhile, Horbury maintain a huge gap at the top of the league, despite falling to their third defeat in their last five league games; a mini dip in form that may well give Wakefield and others hope of catching them.
The start of 2025 could hardly have gone better for Wakefield and manager Bodle. He lost just two league games in the entirety of 2024 and, with performances such as this one, it seems old habits die hard. Since the arrival of Bodle and assistant manager Lee Needham, Wakefield are proving a tough nut to crack. The statement win over Horbury comes courtesy of that, with every player doing their job. Salt and Brad McGowan were all-but unbeatable at the back and, on the occasions Horbury did break through, ‘keeper Evans pulled off excellent saves to earn what is his seventh clean-sheet of the season and Wakefield’s 10th overall – five of those shut-outs coming in the six games since the partnership of Salt and McGowan was formed.
All of that bodes well for the remainder of the season, with a solid foundation to support what is still one of the most exciting and potent attacks in the league. Wakefield are proving they can win in different ways and whichever way it is, they will hope to do so again when they return to action on Saturday 11th January 2025 at home to Ilkley Town; kick-off: 15:00PM.
Match Stats
Half Time: 0-1
Full Time: 0-1
Attendance: 545
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Owen Evans – Aaron Pilkington, Chris Salt, Brad McGowan (C), Nana Nyarko – Scott Smith, Mo Gashi – Curtis Morrison, Jaydan Sandhu, Callum Brooks – Shay Evans-Booth
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
16m, Kenan McKenzie-Grey for Nana Nyarko
54m, Morgan James for Callum Brooks
65m, Kiyani Morris for Shay Evans-Booth
72m, Sebastian Losa for Jaydan Sandhu
90m+2, Josef Turner for Curtis Morrison
Possession:
Horbury Town 53% – 47% Wakefield AFC
Passes Completed:
Horbury Town 151 – 133 Wakefield AFC
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Scot Smith (Yellow)
Mo Gashi (Yellow)
Sebastian Losa (Yellow)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 2
Second Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shot off Target: 3
Horbury Town
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 6
Second Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 6