Saturday 27th December 2025 | Austin Ainsworth
Wakefield AFC returned to NCEL Division One action on Saturday with a derby away at local rivals Nostell Miners Welfare.
The Falcon’s festive spirits may have been dampened in the run-up to Christmas, after their impressive run of results was halted last time out away at Louth; a game in which they settled for just one point – no more than they ultimately deserved – when Louth grabbed an equaliser with the last kick of the game, having themselves earlier led in the fixture before Wakefield had appeared to have turned things around with two late goals.
That disappointing result placed extra importance on Wakefield returning to winning ways at Nostell, in theory a simple task given Nostell headed into the game second from bottom in the league having picked up just one point in their last seven matches.
Wakefield manager Jason Blunt, bolstered by a few new signings over the Christmas period, sprung a surprise with his line-up as he shifted to a 4-2-3-1 formation, having largely favoured a back three since his arrival. The move meant Ethan Kachosa was given a more attacking role on the right wing, whilst Bolton Makwedza returned from suspension behind him at right-back. New signing Basile Zottos featured from the start on the left, whilst midfielder Billy Mole captained the side in the absence of the injured Chris Salt.
A perfectly executed plan for Wakefield would have seen them settle into early domination of Nostell, with first half goals to settle the nerves on the way to a routine victory. Fixtures in-and-around the disorienting time between Christmas and New-Year often have a way of throwing-up surprises though.
Another thing synonymous with Christmas is the contrast in approaches between those that get their shopping done early and enjoy a stress-free festive season, and those that leave it until the last minute and, as a result, experience self-inflicted panic as the big day approaches. Unfortunately for the healthy contingent of travelling Wakefield support, the away side fell into the latter category.
Just six minutes elapsed before Nostell took a surprise lead, with Wakefield caught sleeping at the back. Wakefield’s unfamiliar back four may have been a factor as a free-kick for Nostell deep in their own half was punted forward towards the right wing. That was all it took for the Nostell winger to race in behind and then cross for Cooper Hall, who stayed strong to hold off a challenge, round Drew Bremer in the Wakefield goal and finish from a tight angle.
Wakefield toiled for much of the half after that, in scenes similar to the previous outing at Louth, with no real opportunities arising in front of goal until shortly before the interval. New boy Zottos nearly had a debut to remember when Tom Hinton dropped deep to ping a ball over the backline for him to run onto. The lively winger spotted Nostell ‘keeper – former Wakefield favourite George Bason – racing off his line and attempted a dinked shot over him which went narrowly wide.
Striker Akeel Francis then had an even more clear-cut one-on-one opportunity when Kachosa played him in on goal, only for his shot to go straight at the on-rushing Bason. And then, just before half-time, Makwedza saw an audacious overhead kick parried away on the goal-line, with Francis somehow seeing his attempt on the rebound from a yard out go the wrong side of the post.
That meant Wakefield went into the break with work to do and at risk of more dropped points, though with the promise of that late flurry of first half chances pointing toward signs of a second half resurgence.
That turnaround didn’t come however, with things falling flat again for what felt like an eternity after the restart. It took until the 70th minute – by which point Mole had become the latest victim in a recent spate of worrying-looking injuries – for Wakefield to muster an effort on goal; a header which was cleared off the line after a good Hinton corner.
Any disappointment at that missed opportunity didn’t last however, as Zottos got off the mark minutes later with a finely taken, debut goal. Francis, as he so often does, dropped deep and drifted out to the left wing where he received the ball with his head up, and pinged a sumptuous cross-field ball towards the inside run of Zottos off the right. He spotted Nostell’s goalkeeper slightly off his line and with supreme confidence executed a first-time, side-footed volley over the ‘keeper and into the far corner of the net.
An immediate turnaround didn’t follow for Wakefield, who were fortunate not to fall behind again when a Nostell player went racing in on goal from a long ball. He had all the time in the world, only for Bremer to close the angle and stand firm against the shot – a good save no doubt, but a lucky escape for Wakefield, who were fortunate the striker wasn’t more clinical in picking a spot either side of Bremer.
The Falcons looked to be heading for another draw until the dying moments of the regulation 90, when substitutes Kieran Mortimer and Jerome Greaves both drew fine saves out of Nostell’s no. 1 to hint at signs of a late push for a winner.
Late it was indeed, as – in the first minute of stoppage time – Francis looked to have finally bagged the points for his side with a well taken goal – his 13th of the campaign. Owen Thomas played a ball out from the back which was completely misjudged by the Nostell defender, which Francis raced onto just inside the left edge of the Nostell box. It appeared as though the prolific striker would open his body up and curl a shot to the far post, only for him to give Bason the eyes and smash an unstoppable effort in at the near post; the goal his fourth in his last five appearances.
The goal, seemingly the winner, drew raucous scenes as half the Wakefield bench and a few attending fans raced onto the pitch to pile onto the celebratory huddle. However, there was still time left in the the four remaining added minutes for Nicell – excellent again in midfield – to make sure of the points with the last kick of the game.
The midfielder was perfectly placed in the box to finish a fine move after Zottos switched wings to the left, where he initially looked to shoot after a flowing Wakefield move from right to left. He instead squared the ball towards Greaves who, possibly by accident, allowed the ball to roll through his legs, where Nicell was on hand to control the ball and curl a wonderful effort into the top corner to make doubly sure of the three points.
On a day where two of the sides above them dropped points, and one in which their own level of performance may not quite have been to the standard seen in recent weeks, the three points was all that mattered, as Wakefield remain in fourth but ever closer to the top three. It also ensured Wakefield end 2025 on a high, with their next match now coming in the new year when they return home to welcome Athersley Recreation; kick-off 15:00PM on 03/01/2026.
Match Stats
Half Time: 1-0
Full Time: 1-3
Attendance: 283
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Drew Bremer – Bolton Makwedza, Matthew Swift, Mo Conteh, Owen Thomas – Callum Nicell, Billy Mole (C) – Ethan Kachosa, Tom Hinton, Basile Zottos, Akeel Francis
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
63m, Kieran Mortimer for Bolton Makwedza
63m, Benjamin Dyer for Billy Mole
72m, Jerome Greaves for Ethan Kachosa
Possession:
Nostell Miners Welfare 26% – 74% Wakefield AFC
Passes Completed:
Nostell Miners Welfare 124 – 317 Wakefield AFC
Goals:
6m, Cooper Hall
72m, Basile Zottos
90m+1, Akeel Francis
90m+5, Callum Nicell
Wakefield AFC Assists:
72m, Akeel Francis
90m+1, Owen Thomas
90m+5, Basile Zottos
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Bolton Makwedza (Yellow)
Billy Mole (Yellow)
Tom Hinton (Yellow)
Kieran Mortimer (Yellow)
Callum Nicell (Yellow)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 7
Second Half
Shots on Target: 8
Shot off Target: 3
Nostell Miners Welfare
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 0
Second Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 0