Saturday 8th February 2025 | Austin Ainsworth
Wakefield AFC have shown no sign of letting-up in the NCEL Division One of late, with a string of wins catapulting them towards the league summit. And, even when performances haven’t quite reached the desired level, a steely resolve and desire to win have ensured the points keep stacking up.
That was the case last Friday night away at Nostell Miners Welfare where Wakefield, particularly in the first half, were well below par but still came from behind to win 2-1. There was a quick rematch for both sides when Nostell made the return trip to The Millennium Stadium on Tuesday evening, in what was the first of two home league games for Wakefield this past week – the first time The Falcons have had a double dose of action in what feels like an eternity.
With the victory away at Nostell making it 12 wins from 13 for Wakefield, assistant-manager Lee Needham still opted to freshen things up for his side on Tuesday evening. Kenan McKenzie-Grey made just his second league start at left-back and Sebastian Losa started on the wing for the first time since November, as Kiyani Morris moved in to the central-striking position; Jaydan Sandhu and Shay Evans-Booth dropping to the bench whilst Callum Charlton was also unavailable.
From the first minute, Wakefield were noticeably improved from the previous game, both in terms of intensity and their use of the ball. Scott Smith, also returning to the heart of the side after missing the previous match, fired an early tester towards goal from distance, before Losa capped his return to the team with his fifth goal of the season in just the eighth minute.
McKenzie-Grey, who excelled first at left-back and then in the opposite full-back position in the second half, started the move with quick feet to pounce on the ball and drive from deep. After beating a man, he played a short pass to Smith who instantly turned the ball around the corner for the run of Curtis Morrison down the left-wing. The winger played a teasing, low cross into the six-yard box that looked destined for the boot of Morris. However, a sliding Nostell defender denied him with a timely interception, but could only touch it as far as the lurking Losa who was on hand for the simplest of finishes.
Wakefield continued to press and had further chances to score, before a melee erupted in Wakefield’s right corner after a bad challenge on full-back Aaron Pilkington. He saw yellow for his response, as did two Nostell players; Pilkington playing on well in to the second half only to discover after the match that he had in-fact broken his foot.
Whether that incident caused a brief loss in focus for Wakefield is unknown, but Nostell did find an equaliser moments later in the 24th minute. The goal came from nowhere, as their man received a throw-in from the right on the edge of the box. It was scruffy from both sides as Wakefield could’t make a challenge stick, allowing the Nostell player to bundle his way across the edge of the box before squaring for the unmarked Charlie Austerfield, who executed a good, side-footed finish low past Owen Evans in the Wakefield goal.
In the previous game Wakefield started poorly and fell a goal behind, before equalising against the run of play, just as Nostell did here. However, The Falcons ensured any similarity ended there as they returned to the front foot and continued to press forward, peppering Nostell’s goal.
Goal-line clearances and some wayward finishing meant the scores remained level at half-time, but Wakefield did’t wait long after the start of the second period to re-take the lead. The home side were a constant threat from corners, thanks to the excellent delivery of Morris and Morrison. It was the latter who stepped up to deliver an in-swinger from the right, with captain Brad McGowan – who seems to be a defender with an unlikely poacher’s instinct – placed perfectly to get a stretching shot off on the six yard line. His effort was blocked, but only as far as Mo Gashi, who fired an eye-catching shot into the roof of the net for his fourth goal of the season.
Wakefield could, and should, have extended their lead, not least when Morris excellently finished a swift attacking move to score what he thought was a Wakefield third. However, the referee had been two quick to blow his whistle for a foul on Smith just before he teed Morris up. As such, Morris got a second chance to bag his goal from the spot, but almost comically fired his penalty so far over the bar he may be billed for damage caused to the roof tiles on the terraced houses the other side of the ground.
Wakefield could’t extend their lead further but, such was the authoritative nature of their performance, Nostell never got close to threatening Wakefield’s rock-solid backline in what ended up yet another win for The Falcons.
Saturday then saw another home game for Wakefield, only this time played back at the home of Nostell Miner’s Welfare, who kindly provided use of their facility with The Millennium Stadium unavailable. Eighth placed Selby Town were the visitors, who themselves are chasing a promotion spot in what has been a competitive season for them so far.
Returning Wakefield manager Steve Bodle made three changes to the side, with Charlton back in at left-back and Billy Mole making his first start since returning to the club. He played behind Evans-Booth, who also returned to the attack.
The game was nowhere near as memorable as the early-season reverse at Selby, a crazy 1-1 draw that saw 10-man Wakefield bag a late equaliser against the eight players of Selby, amidst a further three red cards for Selby’s coaching staff.
Nonetheless, the calm control Wakefield exerted over proceedings was likely a welcome change for Wakefield’s fans from the absolute carnage of the previous meeting between these two sides.
That control manifested itself into a workman-like performance from Wakefield in the first half, who weathered a few early half-chances from Selby before taking the lead in the 19th minute from their first effort at goal.
Wakefield took advantage of the scrappiness of the game on what was a heavy pitch to win the ball through Gashi in midfield. He immediately drilled an inch-perfect pass through for the run of Evans-Booth, who muscled in on goal and finished superbly around the goalkeeper – his shot bouncing in off the inside of the far post for his second goal of the season.
The goal seemed to spark Wakefield, who should have gone in at half-time with more than just the one goal lead after good chances for Mole. Wakefield’s all-time leading goalscorer – just one away from 50 goals for the club – has been stuck on 49 for a while now and seemed cursed in front of goal for Wakefield earlier in the season. He again got so close to reaching the landmark here, first when he timed his run perfectly to meet Gashi’s cross just two yards from goal, but could only head straight at the Selby ‘keeper; then when he latched on to Smith’s brilliant, first-time cross-field pass to race in at the near post, only to be denied by the outstretched leg of the goalkeeper. With the mercurial forward looking back to his best in this game, he will no doubt break down the barrier between him and the milestone goal soon.
It was more of the same in the second half, with Wakefield even more dominant and carving out a number of opportunities. Things just didn’t quite go as planned in the final third, with the second goal that would have secured the points proving elusive. Mole saw a looping header go just the wrong side of the crossbar, whilst Evans-Booth and Morrison both stung the palms of the busy Selby ‘keeper. That was amidst a flurry of chances that came mainly from the excellent wing-play of Morris and Morrison, who both created a number of chances for themselves and others.
With a slender lead, nothing is ever certain and inevitably Selby did have late chances to equalise, with Evans making a smart save one-v-one from what appeared to be an offside run for their man, and then when their striker raced through on goal on the counter, only to see his shot go inches past the far post.
Those chances aside, Wakefield were again comfortable on their way to another clean-sheet and a 14th win out of 15 games unbeaten. That incredible run has seen all of the hallmarks of a great side; defensive solidity, winning when not at their best, late goals and a good number of free-flowing, dominant performances. It is form that now sees Wakefield fourth in the league, despite having a number of games in hand on those above them that could take them to second place and breathing down the neck of league-leaders Horbury Town.
However, the mantra for Wakefield will be to keep taking each game one at a time, and treat each one as a cup-final, and the next one comes with an away trip to 15th placed Shelley on Saturday 15th February 2025; kick-off: 15:00PM.
Selby Town Match Stats
Half Time: 1-0
Full Time: 1-0
Attendance: 201
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Owen Evans – Kenan McKenzie-Grey, Chris Salt, Brad McGowan (C), Callum Charlton – Scott Smith, Mo Gashi – Curtis Morrison, Billy Mole, Kiyani Morris – Shay Evans-Booth
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
70m, Morgan James for Billy Mole
70m, Nana Nyarko for Kenan McKenzie-Grey
73m, Mwiya Malumo for Shay Evans-Booth
79m, Seb Losa for Kiyani Morris
82m, Jaydan Sandhu for Curtis Morrison
Possession:
Wakefield AFC 43% – 57% Selby Town
Passes Completed:
Wakefield AFC 123 – 173 Selby Town
Goals:
19m, Shay Evans-Booth
Wakefield AFC Assists:
19m, Mo Gashi
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Callum Charlton (Yellow)
Mo Gashi (Yellow)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 0
Second Half
Shots on Target: 5
Shot off Target: 4
Selby Town
First Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shots off Target: 3
Second Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 3
Nostell Miners Welfare Match Stats
Half Time: 1-1
Full Time: 2-1
Attendance: 337
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Owen Evans – Aaron Pilkington, Chris Salt, Brad McGowan (C), Kenan McKenzie-Grey – Morgan James, Scott Smith – Curtis Morrison, Mo Gashi, Sebastian Losa – Kiyani Morris
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
55m, Nana Nyarko for Aaron Pilkington
65m, Jaydan Sandhu for Morgan James
73m, Billy Mole for Mo Gashi
81m, Shay Evans-Booth for Sebastian Losa
89m, Mwiya Malumo for Curtis Morrison
Possession:
Wakefield AFC 67% – 33% Nostell Miners Welfare
Passes Completed:
Wakefield AFC 199 – 76 Nostell Miners Welfare
Goals:
8m, Sebastian Losa
24m, Charlie Austerfield
50m, Mo Gashi
Wakefield AFC Assists:
8m, Curtis Morrison
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Aaron Pilkington (Yellow)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 6
Second Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shot off Target: 5
Nostell Miners Welfare
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shots off Target: 0