Saturday 2nd August 2025 | Austin Ainsworth
A new look Wakefield AFC moved in to the second week of the season high on confidence after a brilliant 4-0 win away at Glasshoughton Welfare in the opening round. That scoreline might give the impression that the game was a walk in the park; it was anything but, however as far as opening games go for Wakefield it was still as straightforward and stress free as any in recent memory.
Things were sure to get much tougher this past week, with a double-header of fixtures against Harrogate Railway Athletic; away in midweek for the first round of the NCEL League Cup and then at home on Saturday in the league.
Although little can be read in to the league table after just one league game, the fixtures were an early treat for NCEL fans in that it was first versus second, with Harrogate below Wakefield on goal difference at the top of the league.
Both games had the feel of first versus second too, with little to choose between the two sides in two highly competitive and hard fought affairs.
In fact only penalties separated the two on Tuesday evening after Wakefield – with two changes to the starting line-up from the first game in the form of Harvey Scott and Nathaniel Muenda – battled back from an early goal to equalise in the second half through a well-taken, low and precise Akeel Francis free-kick.
The game saw several shifts of momentum, Wakefield starting well and passing the ball crisply, with Harrogate’s contrasting, direct style seeing them make Wakefield’s Owen Evans the busier of the two ‘keepers. Wakefield had the better of the second half and were deserving of the draw, before the lottery of penalties commenced to settle the tie.
Things seemed to be going excellently for the away side, who scored their first three, whilst Harrogate missed two – one a good Evans save and one skied. That meant, with two penalties left apiece, Wakefield needed only one to progress to the next round. However, Billy Mole saw his effort well saved before Chris Salt sent Wakefield’s last kick in to the heavens. And, with Harrogate scoring their fourth and fifth kicks, the shootout went to sudden death. Harrogate scored theirs before Scott confidently fizzed his in to the top corner. Harrogate again dispatched what was now the seventh penalty, meaning Wakefield once more needed to score to stay in the cup. Rhys Thomas stepped up but saw his effort clatter off the crossbar, meaning the League Cup will have to wait for Wakefield for another season.
Anyone associated with Wakefield will undoubtably be disappointed with a missed opportunity at a cup, but will be equally as emphatic in their assertion that the league itself is the main priority this season. That being said, Saturday’s “re-match” already had a big-game, high-pressure feel to it for so early in the season.
Defender Ashley Grayson came back in to the Wakefield side, meaning Owen Thomas shifted back to left-back having filled in centrally in midweek. Manager Steve Bodle continued with the now favoured diamond formation, and was able to give a first start to the standout player from pre-season Tom Hinton, who featured at the tip of the midfield behind the already blossoming strike partnership of Francis and Ash Flynn.
There were many similarities from the game in midweek; Wakefield bossing possession and making the better start, but Harrogate always a threat in the final third and more often coming out on top in the physical contest.
The home side did have the better of the early chances, Francis twice going close from close-range but – just as in midweek – Harrogate halted Wakefield’s momentum with another early goal. It was sloppy from a Wakefield perspective, with the away side punting a long-distance free-kick to the edge of the Wakefield box that was completely missed by everyone and bounced through for a Harrogate man to knock back inside, behind the Wakefield backline. That left a simple tap-in for Railway’s Samuel Drake to make it 0-1.
Wakefield responded quicker this time and were back on the front foot, and back level inside 30 minutes. Hinton received the ball deep in his own half and pinged a half-volleyed pass the full length of the field, over the Harrogate defence to find the smart run of Flynn. The striker let the ball roll through and then clinically slotted it to the side of the goalkeeper for his second goal in as many league matches.
The scores looked set to remain level at half-time, only for Harrogate to reclaim the advantage late in the first half through Sam Clothier. As they did do in both games, Harrogate again found space and joy in the wide areas, perhaps targeting that area of the pitch given the requirement of the Wakefield full-backs to push up to provide width in the diamond formation. Formations aside, Wakefield were guilty of standing off on this occasion, and the Harrogate winger was afforded too much time to step inside and drill a shot towards goal. The ball glanced past two Harrogate attackers which seemed to bamboozle the Wakefield defence, and allowed the overlapping Clothier to dart in from the left wing and complete another tap-in for the away side. There was much protestation from Wakefield, believing the goalscorer to be offside, although that debate would revolve around whether there was a Harrogate touch between the initial shot and Clothier receiving the ball, something that is still hard to discern on second watch.
Nonetheless, Wakefield dusted themselves off at half-time and started the second period well. Early pressure was applied with consecutive corners, each of which were cleared at the near post. However, the second attempt came back out to the Wakefield left-wing, where Hinton retreated from the corner flag to receive the ball and whipped in a sublime, in-swinging corner to the near post. Wakefield’s record goalscorer Mole was on hand to extend his tally, with a smart, glancing header up and over the goalkeeper for what is now his 51st Wakefield goal in 88 appearances.
With that positive start to the half, it seemed as though Wakefield may push on from there but, in truth, the game saw a significant lull and descended in to a chaotic and sloppy affair. There was no real goal-mouth action, with both sides guilty of surrendering possession too easily, particularly in the final third where things seemed rushed and indecisive.
However, as the game moved in to the dying minutes, Wakefield – having never led in nearly 180 minutes of football between the two sides in the past week – looked to have won the game. In what was the best bit of football from Wakefield in the match, a slick passage of play saw substitute Max Rhodes hold the ball well on the right-wing, where he laid it off to fellow sub Muenda. He shot but saw the ball deflected towards the back post, where Francis was lurking to tap the ball home after stealing a yard on his marker. The goal bore striking similarities to Harrogate’s second, with similar protestations of offside.
Unbelievably, there was still time for another twist as – once more – the two teams refused to be separated. Harrogate were awarded a free-kick just inside the Wakefield half in the last minute of added time, which was easily cleared form the edge of the Wakefield box back to the taker. He launched the ball right back down Wakefield’s throat, and it was Harrogate who made first contact in flicking the ball on, in to the box. And a familiar face from Wakefield’s Sheffield and Hallamshire league-winning season – Josh Lockwood – was left unmarked to run in behind and finish through Evans’ legs to restore parity for Harrogate and ensure the game ended 3-3.
In truth, the score was probably a fair reflection on what was a closely fought contest. Although the two sides may not be first and second come the end of the season, there is no doubt on this early evidence that the two will be right in the mix with each other throughout the campaign. There is also no doubt that this past week’s battles with a well organised, competitive and direct Harrogate side have given Wakefield a taste of what is to come this year, and have also perhaps provided a few things to work on in what is a new system and style of play for Wakefield.
The early signs are still positive for Wakefield, who now sit second in the early league table, having made their best start to an NCEL league season despite still having a few cobwebs to blow off. They will need to continue their upward momentum too, with another tough test imminent in the form of a visit to last season’s foes Dearne and District on Tuesday evening; kick-off: 19:45PM on 05/08/2025.
Harrogate Railway Athletic Match Stats 02/08/25
Half Time: 1-2
Full Time: 3-3
Attendance: 248
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Owen Evans – Igor Mlynarski, Chris Salt (C), Ashley Grayson, Owen Thomas – Rhys Thomas – Callum Nicell, Billy Mole – Tom Hinton – Ash Flynn, Akeel Francis
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
16m, Nathaniel Muenda for Ashley Grayson
81m, Max Rhodes for Ash Flynn
90m+1, Harvey Scott for Tom Hinton
Possession:
Wakefield AFC 62% – 38% Harrogate Railway Athletic
Passes Completed:
Wakefield AFC 199 – 99 Harrogate Railway Athletic
Goals:
9m, Samuel Drake
27m, Ash Flynn
39m, Sam Clothier
49m, Billy Mole
89m, Akeel Francis
90m+2, Josh Lockwood
Wakefield AFC Assists:
27m, Tom Hinton
49m, Tom Hinton
89m, Nathaniel Muenda
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Rhys Thomas (Yellow)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 2
Second Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shot off Target: 1
Harrogate Railway Athletic
First Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 1
Harrogate Railway Athletic Match Stats 29/07/25
Half Time: 1-0
Full Time: 1-0 (Harrogate win 5-4 on Penalties)
Attendance: 161
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Owen Evans – Igor Mlynarski, Chris Salt (C), Owen Thomas, Harvey Scott – Rhys Thomas – Callum Nicell, Billy Mole – Nathaniel Muenda – Ash Flynn, Akeel Francis
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
65m, Max Rhodes for Ash Flynn
68m, Tafadzwa Tapudzai for Nathaniel Muenda
Possession:
Harrogate Railway Athletic 36% – 64% Wakefield AFC
Passes Completed:
Harrogate Railway Athletic 100 – 262 Wakefield AFC
Goals:
22m, Harris Eggleston
54m, Akeel Francis
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 6
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shot off Target: 3
Harrogate Railway Athletic
First Half
Shots on Target: 4
Shots off Target: 3
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 2