Saturday 4th May 2024 | Austin Ainsworth
Having finished fourth for the second time in two seasons in the NCEL Division One, another playoff
semi-final awaited Wakefield AFC on Saturday; ambitious Shirebrook Town their opposition
this season, who finished third in the league, three points ahead of Wakefield.
As the side in the top five that had arguably proved Wakefield’s most challenging opposition in the
regular season – Shirebrook having claimed a convincing win at their ground after a draw earlier in
the season at Belle Vue – the Derbyshire side went in to the game as favourites. However, in a
slight boost for Wakefield, Shirebrook’s right of home advantage was ceded with their ground
unavailable, meaning the match was played on neutral territory at Parkwood’s Roundwood
Pavilion.
Wakefield manager Junior Roberti had just about the same pool of players to choose from that
had seen him win all six of his league games since taking charge of the club in March, defender
Jack Cairney the only notable absentee, as Billy Mole made his long awaited return to the squad
after suspension; taking up a place on the substitutes bench. Ben Holmes came in to the centre
of the back three in place of Cairney, whilst top-scorer Mason Rubie returned to the starting lineup
at right wing-back in Wakefield’s 3-4-3 formation. That meant Jordan Helliwell moved to
midfield alongside Jaydan Sandhu, behind a front three of Slater Barnes, Ben Gelder and Oliver
Rodriguez.
With anticipation, excitement and a healthy dose of nerves having built up for what felt like an
eternity following Wakefield’s 4-1 victory away to Nostell Miners Welfare in their last match, kickoff
finally arrived in front of a decent crowd of 507. Unfortunately for Wakefield, no sooner had the
big occasion arrived than it had passed them by.
Almost immediately from kick-off alarm bells were ringing as a hungry looking Shirebrook came
flying out of the blocks, almost taking the lead after five minutes when their man scythed through
midfield before setting up a good chance on goal, goalkeeper George Bristol making a good save.
Moments later Wakefield’s ‘keeper had the woodwork to thank though, when he misplaced a pass
out from the back which led to two further shots at goal.
Wakefield were struggling to get out, their only possession in their own defensive third, and their
only reprieve coming with a 10 minute stoppage to the game due to a medical incident in the
crowd. When play resumed, it was more of the same, and Shirebrook’s opening goal came almost
immediately.
Although the goal was arguably a deserved one for Shirebrook, it was unfortunate for Wakefield in
that it came following the award of a dubious corner-kick. Wakefield cleared the set piece but only
as far as the edge of their box, where Barnes was drawn in to fouling the player on the ball. A
well-executed free-kick followed, drilled through a sea of legs for Kieren Watson to tap home from
inside the six yard box.
Sometimes an early set-back can awaken a side, but that didn’t transpire. Wakefield looked leggy,
loose, lackadaisical in possession and lacking in ideas; whilst Shirebrook looked fitter, faster, more
fired up and were first to every ball. The second goal followed 10 minutes after the first, Watson
again the scorer as a free ball in midfield was played through for him to smartly control before toepoking
a good finish with the outside of his boot to the far post.
Aside from a decent looking penalty shout for Wakefield just before the second goal which was
waved away, they rarely threatened Shirebrook; their best chance coming through Helliwell after
half an hour, when Sandhu fired a pass through to him inside the box. Helliwell controlled and
turned well, but fired his shot across goal.
Having come so close to halving the deficit, Wakefield then found themselves in a world of trouble
when a clumsy challenge inside their own box led to the award of a Shirebrook penalty. Watson
didn’t pass on the chance of a first-half hat-trick, firing his shot straight down the middle of the
goal to make it 3-0 after 34 minutes.
With Mole already on before half-time, Roberti also introduced Nathan Hawkhead and Sebastian
Losa during the interval. The changes didn’t bring an unlikely come-back, with Shirebook able to
keep Wakefield at arm’s length for the remainder of the game. An industrious Rodriguez did
manage to draw saves from the Shirebrook goalkeeper with long-range efforts either side of halftime,
but Shirebrook were otherwise comfortable and eventually added their fourth on the hour.
The goal was one to forget for Wakefield as Callum Charlton’s attempted headed back-pass fell
short of Bristol, allowing Kiyani Clayton the chance to snatch the ball, upon which he rounded
Bristol and dribbled the ball in to goal.
That was more than enough to see out a convincing, deserved victory for Shirebrook with
Wakefield unable to muster any response. Even great teams have days were things don’t go right
and, unfortunately for Wakefield – no doubt a match for any team on their day – their off-day came
in the biggest game of the season.
It means the dream of promotion will have to wait for another year, but shouldn’t take away from
an excellent season filled with far more highs than lows. On the face of it Wakefield are in the
same position they were as last year, but that doesn’t tell the whole story of some of the progress
made in their second season in this division, a year in which the overall standard of the league has
been higher, particularly with the strength and consistency of the sides at the top.
On the pitch, Wakefield are the leagues top-scorers with an incredible 145 goals; they have won
more games and scored more goals than they did last year, whilst losing less and conceding
fewer. Several players have also made defining contributions and shown they are of the calibre
required to achieve promotion; there are too many to name but special mention must go to
Sandhu with an unbelievable 16 goals and 29 assists from 50 games; and Rubie, who has
managed to add goals to his game, bagging 20 to make himself top-scorer for the year. Captain
Jack Durkin has been an almost ever-present at the back, marshalling the side with excellence,
whilst Rodriguez and Barnes have dazzled and delighted in equal measure on the wings, the latter
reaching 15 goals in just 18 games.
All of that is matched only by the progress off the pitch; with Wakefield’s move to Belle Vue seeing
an incredible surge in attendances and a community of fans, volunteers and players that have
grown closer and stronger. Of the 10 highest attended league matches this season in the NCEL
Division One, Wakefield were involved in seven of those fixtures, with six of them coming at home.
That, more than anything, speaks volumes for Wakefield’s standing, and of the promise the future
can bring. The challenge now is to combine all of these undeniable strengths with the stability and
consistency required to achieve the aim of promotion next year.
Match Stats
Half Time: 3-0
Full Time: 4-0
Attendance: 507
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
George Bristol – Jack Durkin (C), Ben Holmes, T’nique Fishley – Mason Rubie, Jordan Helliwell,
Jaydan Sandhu, Callum Charlton – Slater Barnes, Ben Gelder, Oliver Rodriguez
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
34m, Billy Mole for Ben Holmes
46m, Sebastian Losa for Ben Gelder
46m, Nathan Hawkhead for Mason Rubie
65m, Lewis Stephens for Jaydan Sandhu
Possession:
Shirebrook Town 43% – 57% Wakefield AFC
Passes Completed:
Shirebrook Town 154 – 229 Wakefield AFC
Goals:
14m, Kieren Watson
25m, Kieren Watson
34m, Kieren Watson (Pen)
60m, Kiyani Clayton
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Slater Barnes (Yellow)
T’nique Fishley (Yellow)
Oliver Rodriguez (Yellow)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 2
Second Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shot off Target: 3
Shirebrook Town
First Half
Shots on Target: 4
Shots off Target: 3
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 1
Wakefield AFC Season Stats (All Competitions)
Games Played: 51
Wins: 33
Draws: 7
Losses: 11
Win Percentage: 65%
Goals For: 145
Goals Against: 64
Average Goals Scored Per Game: 2.84
Average Goals Conceded Per Game: 1.25
Clean Sheets: 16
Goals:
Mason Rubie – 20
Jaydan Sandhu – 16
Slater Barnes – 15
Oliver Rodriguez – 12
Sebastian Losa – 12
Billy Mole – 11
Ben Gelder – 11
Cameron Barnett – 7
Jack Durkin – 6
Jake Morrison – 4
Lewis Stephens – 4
Danny Youel – 3
Ashley Flynn – 3
Kieran Ceesay – 3
Jack Cairney – 3
Own Goal – 2
Cory Woodward – 2
Nathan Hawkhead – 2
Callum Charlton – 2
Jock Curran – 1
Robbie Miller – 1
Callum Charlton – 1
Oliver Clarke – 1
Aaron Pilkington – 1
T’nique Fishley – 1
Jordan Helliwell – 1
Assists:
Jaydan Sandhu – 29
Oliver Rodriguez – 11
Mason Rubie – 10
Jack Durkin – 7
Callum Charlton – 7
Danny Youel – 6
Aaron Pilkington – 6
Slater Barnes – 6
Cameron Barnett – 5
Billy Mole – 4
Nathan Hawkhead – 4
Ben Gelder – 4
Jordan Helliwell – 4
Sebastian Losa – 3
Owan Derrett – 2
Ashley Flynn – 1
Jake Morrison – 1
Kieran Ceesay – 1
Joel Spence – 1
James Morris – 1
Alexander King – 1
Jack Cairney – 1
Lewis Stephens – 1
Clean Sheets:
Henry Kendrick – 8
George Bristol – 5
Ryan Musselwhite – 2
*George Bristol / Leo Elsdon – 1
*Player played 45 mins each
Yellows:
Oliver Rodriguez – 8
Jaydan Sandhu – 7
Billy Mole – 6
Jack Cairney – 5
Callum Charlton – 4
Jack McGahan – 3
Aaron Pilkington – 3
Sebastian Losa – 3
Kieran Ceesay – 2
Danny Youel – 2
Owan Derrett – 2
Nathan Hawkhead – 2
Edward Busfield – 2
Cameron Barnett – 2
Cameron Barnett – 2
Jordan Helliwell – 2
T’nique Fishley – 2
Slater Barnes – 2
Henry Kendrick – 1
Robbie Miller – 1
Jake Morrison – 1
Ashley Flynn – 1
Joel Spence – 1
Jack Durkin – 1
Lewis Stephens – 1
George Bristol – 1
Reds:
Robbie Miller – 1
Oliver Rodriguez – 1
Nathan Hawkhead – 1
Billy Mole – 1
Oliver Clarke – 1