Saturday 9th March 2024 | Austin Ainsworth
After impressively progressing through to the semi-finals of the West Riding County Cup two weeks ago with a fine win away to higher-league Tadcaster Albion, the never-ending inclement weather meant Wakefield had an extended wait for a return to their promotion push in the NCEL Division One.
They eventually returned to action on Saturday at home to struggling Swallownest, second-from-bottom in the league and with just one win this year. Encouragingly for the visitors, that victory did come in their most recent game. Nevertheless, with Swallownest having a goal difference of -96 going in to the game, Wakefield – contrastingly having scored 98 goals so far – would have been licking their lips at the opportunity of breaching the 100 goal mark.
The home side were assisted by the return of former striker, and goal machine, Lewis Stephens in midweek. He went straight back in to the starting line-up after stints higher up the league pyramid this season at Tadcaster Albion and Knaresborough Town. With 15 goals in just 23 games for Wakefield last season, no one would have been more confident of him improving that record on his immediate return to the side than he himself.
Things didn’t quite go to plan in a stale first half for Wakefield, within which a spirited performance from Swallownest limited the home side to scraps in front of goal. Wakefield’s one big chance did give them the lead in the 18th minute, although it was slightly harsh on Swallownest after strong claims for a foul in the build-up were waved away. Slater Barnes, with his first goal in five games, was the man on hand, as he slyly nudged his marker in the back to create the space to control Oliver Rodriguez’s searching long-pass. As Swallownest appealed for the foul, Barnes finished coldly past the out-of-position ‘keeper to make it 1-0.
Wakefield, although the dominant side, never truly looked like extending their lead in a first half that, despite their goal advantage, they would not have been truly happy with. As a result, manager Gabe Mozzini made changes at half-time, with Jack Cairney, Cameron Barnett and top-scorer Mason Rubie all coming on. Mozzini, perhaps looking to overcome the difficulties his defence had encountered in playing around Swallownest’s aggressive press, whilst also seeking to bolster numbers further up the field with a view to breaking down the visitor’s stubborn defence, also changed the system from his usual 4-3-3 to an attacking 3-5-1-2 formation.
The move was a masterstroke, with Wakefield moving up the gears to unleash an attacking onslaught that Swallownest simply could not live with. It didn’t take long at all for the first of five second half goals to come with Rodriguez, now operating as the no. 10 behind a front two of Stephens and Barnes, capping a fine performance with an equally brilliant goal. Jaydan Sandhu claimed yet another assist, his first of two in the half that now takes him to 24 for the season, but in truth it was a goal all of Rodriguez’s own making as he received the pass in midfield and then drove at the retreating defence. What followed was a remarkable, dipping and swerving strike that left the goalkeeper no chance.
Wakefield continued to probe and press with a myriad of chances, before Stephens, on his second debut for the club, finally got in on the action with two goals in three minutes. They were both vintage Stephens, each summing up his excellent timing, positioning and goal-poacher’s instinct. The first came after good work from half-time substitute Barnett, who broke the Swallownest defensive line with a penetrating thru-ball to Rodriguez. His initial back-heeled shot was deflected to Stephens, whose first attempt from three yards out was cleared off the line, before he reclaimed the ball to stab it home for 3-0.
His next, three minutes later, was a blistering attack with the excellent Barnett again at the heart of it with a ball over to Barnes down the right. His inch-perfect cross was met by Stephens who, having expertly timed his run, finished with one touch in to the back of the net at the far post.
Barnes, already on his way to a man-of-the-match performance, added to his goal and assist moments later to make it 5-0 in the 73rd minute with his ninth goal in as many games this year. He was on hand to convert Mason Rubie’s deflected cross with an emphatic half-volley low to the goalkeeper’s left.
From then on it was a flip of a coin as to who out of Barnes and Stephens, if not both, would claim their hat-trick. Both seemed equally as desperate to score as they did assist each other, as evidence of a fruitful partnership began to show. Both set up good chances for the other, with Barnes denied by the crossbar and Stephens by a goal-line clearance.
In the end neither got a third goal, though Wakefield did get their sixth in the denying moments through an unlikely source, as Sandhu’s corner kick was met by defender Cairney in the centre of the penalty box. Belying his position of centre-back with an excellent finish, the towering defender connected exquisitely with the cross, to execute an unstoppable half-volley down in to the ground that bounced perfectly up and in to the net.
With six goals and another clean-sheet, Wakefield – now with three league wins in a row – moved back to second in the league, just a point behind new leaders Shirebrook Town. With all of the sides at the top having played a differing amount of games, the top-spot is likely to continue to shift before the season’s end. All Wakefield can do is maintain their highest standards in the hope that results, and then the league, should take care of itself. Their next opportunity to do so comes in midweek with a trip to Retford FC; kick-off 19:45PM, 12/03/2024.
Match Stats
Half Time: 0-1
Full Time: 0-6
Attendance: 409
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Ryan Musselwhite – Aaron Pilkington, T’nique Fishley, Jack Durkin (C), Callum Charlton – Joshua Lindley, Jaydan Sandhu, Jordan Helliwell – Oliver Rodriguez, Lewis Stephens, Slater Barnes
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
46m, Cameron Barnett for Aaron Pilkington
46m, Mason Rubie for Jordan Helliwell
46m, Jack Cairney for Joshua Lindley
Possession:
Wakefield AFC 79% – 21% Swallownest
Passes Completed:
Wakefield AFC 345 – 96 Swallownest
Goals:
18m, Slater Barnes
52m, Oliver Rodriguez
67m, Lewis Stephens
70m, Lewis Stephens
73m, Slater Barnes
87m, Jack Cairney
Wakefield AFC Assists:
18m, Oliver Rodriguez
52m, Jaydan Sandhu
70m, Slater Barnes
73m, Mason Rubie
87m, Jaydan Sandhu
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 4
Second Half
Shots on Target: 9
Shot off Target: 10
Swallownest
First Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shots off Target: 0
Second Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shots off Target: 0