Saturday 15th April 2023 | Austin Ainsworth
Arguably the biggest game in Wakefield AFC’s short, but successful, history came to pass on
Saturday, as they travelled to face Rossington Main in the Northern Counties East League Division
One Play-Off semi-final.
The opportunity to take one step toward promotion had come far sooner than many would have
expected for Wakefield, with last year’s Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League
champions having secured their Play-Off place with a fourth placed finish in just their first
campaign at Step Six.
Standing between Wakefield and promotion were a seasoned Rossington side who were equally
chomping at the bit. And, in contrast to Wakefield’s relative inexperience at this level, Main also
had 31 years of history as Division One mainstays to fall back on; this year’s third placed finish
their highest in that time.
With Wakefield having lost away and drawn at home to Rossington in their previous league
meetings, manager Gabe Mozzini had some decisions to make around which combination of
personnel and formation would give his side the best chance at securing a spot in the final.
Perhaps with a nod to Rossington’s own system of play, Mozzini opted to go with a much used
3-4-1-2 formation and, for the first time, all three of Wakefield’s highest scorers started; Billy Mole
behind a strike pairing of Jake Morrison and Lewis Stephens. As expected, captain Danny Youel
returned to midfield alongside Jock Curran, with the rest of the side unchanged from Wakefield’s
last game.
The away side made a quick start and, with the firepower at their disposal, looked to get the ball
forward quickly to their attacking players; Mole, as tenacious as he is talented, showing his intent
when he sprinted all of 30 yards to robustly win an aerial duel before the referee harshly blew his
whistle, halting the away side’s early momentum in the process.
Wakefield’s momentum suffered further when, moments later, goalkeeper Henry Kendrick
scrambled back on to his line to catch a looping cross-cum-shot, and clattered the post in the
process. Initially appearing to be suffering from the impact of the woodwork, it soon transpired
that he had cruelly suffered a serious looking injury to his ankle, just five minutes in to the game.
And, with Wakefield’s other regular shot-stopper Callum Gladding injured, after a lengthy delay to
play, goalkeeper coach Alexander Turner, filling in as substitute for the day, entered the fray.
Turner was soon called in to action as Main, growing in to the game, had a great opportunity to
score through their danger man Manasse Kianga. His exhilarating pace saw him break in behind
Wakefield’s high line, only to see Turner make an excellent low stop when one-on-one.
Wakefield’s own danger man, Morrison, responded immediately when Stephen’s precise pass on
the counter played him in down the right; the former’s shot from an unlikely angle comfortably
saved by the Rossington ‘keeper.
Wakefield threatened further minutes later when Stephen’s sharp positioning saw him latch on to
a well won header from Curran. Stephens dribbled from out to in across the edge of the box
attempting to create space on his right foot to shoot. With Rossington bodies in his way, he
instead laid the ball off for wing-back Mason Rubie, who drilled a low shot toward the near post,
the Rossington goalkeeper denying him his sixth goal of the season with a stretched leg.
The half continued to ebb and flow, as Turner was again called in to action with another fine save
after a quick Rossington throw-in from the right saw their player turn inside to fire a shot toward
the near post. That chance came as Rossington’s command of the game increased, Wakefield
coming under increasing pressure as some resolute defending prevented several more
Rossington Main shots from troubling Turner in goal.
Wakefield would have perhaps wanted half-time more than Rossington, however could have
actually gone in with the advantage when Stephens was denied in the last minute of added time.
An excellent ball up from Robbie Miller in defence saw Morrison nod the ball on towards the
penalty area. Again displaying sharp movement and an excellent first touch, Stephens found
himself in on goal, however a lunging challenge managed to deflect his goal-bound shot just wide
of the post.
With Wakefield’s best chance of the first half coming just before half-time, their best of the second
came just after as a rapid counter attack saw Mole break free in midfield before playing Stephens
in down the right channel. Morrison, under pressure from his marker, raced to meet Stephen’s low
cross on the six yard line and appeared to have done all that was required, just managing to get
ahead of the Main defender before finessing the ball toward goal with the side of his foot.
However his shot rattled off the inside of the crossbar, somehow bouncing away from the goal
and back in to play, before Mole’s attempt at a difficult half-volley flew just over the goal.
From then on Wakefield struggled to get in to Rossington’s final third, with much of the game
played in their own half. They had been relatively successful in preventing the home side any clear
cut chances until Rossington were gifted a free-kick 40 yards out on the right. The ball was played
in for Main’s no.9 to get a shot away, only to be denied by another timely Wakefield block. There
was only momentary respite for Wakefield however, as the ball came straight back at them with
another good delivery, and was met by Gregory Young at the far post. He did well to get in front of
his marker before directing a shot inside of the near post as he was falling to the ground, leaving
Turner no chance to prevent his team from falling a goal down.
Wakefield attempted to find a route back in to the game, knowing just one goal would take the tie
straight to penalties. However, despite the introduction of attack minded players and a move to a
back four, Wakefield couldn’t find a way as Rossington expertly saw the game out through both
their possession play and use of the clock.
Rossington Main, ultimately the better of the two sides on the day, now go in to a home Play-Off
final against Horbury Town, with their dream of promotion well and truly in sight. Meanwhile, for all
associated with Wakefield, that dream dies if only for a very short time. In time, once the pain
subsides, Wakefield should, and will, reflect on an incredibly successful first season at this level. A
season of highs and lows, but one that has exceeded any realistic expectations from this time last
year. A season of incredible success in even reaching the Play-Offs. And, a season of learning that
will fuel Wakefield next year as they move to a new home at Wakefield Trinity’s Belle Vue stadium.
In manager Mozzini’s own final words on the season, Wakefield’s aim next year is not the Play-
Offs, it is the title.
Match Stats
Half Time: 0-0
Full Time: 1-0
Attendance: 826
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Henry Kendrick – Haydn Ward, Robbie Miller, Cory Woodward – Mason Rubie, Danny Youel (C), Jock
Curran, Aaron Pilkington – Billy Mole – Lewis Stephens, Jake Morrison
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
9m, Alexander Turner for Henry Kendrick
65m, Kieran Ceesay for Lewis Stephens
79m, Jaydan Sandhu for Jock Curran
85m, Owen Kirman for Haydn Ward
Goals:
69m, Gregory Young (Rossington Main)
Wakefield AFC Cards
Jock Curran (Yellow)
Billy Mole (Yellow)
Robbie Miller (Yellow)
Attempts:
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shot off Target: 2
Rossington Main
First Half
Shots on Target: 4
Shots off Target: 5
Second Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 4
Wakefield AFC Season Stats (All Competitions)
Games Played: 42
Wins: 22
Draws: 4
Losses: 16
Goals For: 98
Goals Against: 72
Average Goals Scored Per Game: 2.3
Average Goals Conceded Per Game: 1.7
Clean Sheets: 12
Goals:
Billy Mole – 18
Lewis Stephens – 15
Jake Morrison – 12
Jaydan Sandhu – 10
Daniel Hernandez – 7
Kieran Ceesay – 5
Mason Rubie – 5
Cory Woodward – 4
Owen Kirman – 4
Danny Youel – 4
Lucas Stubbs – 3
Jock Curran – 3
Ray Sibanda – 2
Own Goal – 2
Harley Blankley – 2
Robbie Miller – 1
Haydn Ward – 1
Assists:
Danny Youel – 12
Mason Rubie – 11
Kieran Ceesay – 6
Jaydan Sandhu – 5
Billy Mole – 5
Harley Blankley – 4
Josh Craig – 4
Lewis Stephens – 4
Owen Kirman – 3
Jock Curran – 3
Tom Booth – 3
Cory Woodward – 3
Aaron Pilkington – 2
George Bason – 2
Jake Morrison – 2
Kristijonas Joksas – 1
Lloyd Horridge – 1
Daniel Hernandez – 1
Morgan Butcher – 1
Haydn Ward – 1
Ray Sibanda – 1
Romario Vieira – 1
MOTM:
Lewis Stephens – 5
Billy Mole – 5
Danny Youel – 4
Jake Morrison – 2
George Bason – 2
Jock Curran – 2
Henry Kendrick – 2
Jaydan Sandhu – 2
Mason Rubie – 2
Daniel Hernandez – 1
Tom Claisse – 1
Kieran Ceesay – 1
Robbie Miller – 1
Cory Woodward – 1
Owen Kirman – 1
Aaron Pilkington – 1
Callum Gladding – 1
Clean Sheets:
Henry Kendrick – 5
Callum Gladding – 3
George Bason – 1
Lloyd Horridge – 1
George Bason / Henry Kendrick Shared – 1
Henry Kendrick / Callum Gladding Shared – 1
Yellow Cards:
Billy Mole – 12
Morgan Butcher – 7
Tom Booth – 4
Danny Youel – 4
Haydn Ward – 3
Jaydan Sandhu – 3
Jake Morrison – 3
Robbie Miller – 3
Aaron Pilkington – 2
Josh Craig – 2
Max Elliott – 2
Mason Rubie – 2
Kaydan Henry – 2
Henry Kendrick – 2
Cory Woodward – 2
Jock Curran – 2
Owen Kirman – 1
Kieran Ceesay – 1
Lewis Stephens – 1
Red Cards:
Morgan Butcher – 2
Lloyd Horridge – 1
Jaydan Sandhu – 1
Aaron Pilkington – 1
Jake Morrison – 1