Saturday 10th August 2024 | Austin Ainsworth
To call Wakefield AFC’s start to the NCEL Division One season a crisis would be a vastly premature overreaction, nonetheless, Junior Roberti’s men headed in to the weekend very much needing a win to finally get their campaign up and running.
Having fallen to defeat in their first two games against newly promoted sides, Wakefield’s match this week was away to Dronfield Town, a side with more than 10 years of experience at this level. However, despite their arguably greater league pedigree than Wakefield, on paper it was a good fixture for The Falcons to finally get off the mark, with the past four meetings between the two all ending in Wakefield wins.
New signing Hagie Damba made his debut in goal – becoming Wakefield’s third goalkeeper in three games, and an incredible seventh different goalkeeper to feature for Wakefield over the last two seasons – whilst Kieran Haigh also made his debut to partner captain Jack Durkin in defence. Callum Charlton returned from suspension at left-back, with the only other change in the 4-2-3-1 formation from last week being Jaydan Sandhu coming back in to the starting line-up in place of Ben Gelder; Billy Mole moving further up the pitch to start as Wakefield’s central striker.
Wakefield have had the better of the first-halves in their past two losses, but that wasn’t quite so here in a largely even, but turgid, affair in Derbyshire. An early goal would probably have done wonders for Wakefield’s bruised confidence, but Dronfield had the best of the chances in the opening stages as Wakefield, for all their possession, struggled to get up the pitch and managed only one shot on target in the half.
Dronfield didn’t fare much better but did at least test Damba on a couple of occasions, the second of which was a fierce half-volley from the edge of the box that drew an impeccable, stretching save from the new ‘keeper. In a half with little to excite the vast contingent of travelling Wakefield fans, it was the goalkeeper who most caught the eye, not just for those accomplished saves, but also when he showed ice in his veins when playing out from the back, leaving the Dronfield attack embarrassed when he dummied the ball around them on more than one occasion.
Wakefield did have some sight of goal, their best opportunity of the half coming through Mole after excellent work from Kiyani Morris down the left to beat his man and cross. Mole, who had been tireless in his running but received little service up to then, chested the ball down and attempted a half-volley at goal. However, with the connection not quite as sweet as it could have been, the Dronfield goalkeeper made a comfortable save.
Sebastian Losa replaced Mason Rubie at half time with Wakefield needing a spark to get them going in the second half. Although the away side’s superiority was greater in the second period, and the threat that Dronfield had shown in the first half greatly diminished, it was still a tough watch; the game too-often disrupted by the constant sounding of the referee’s whistle for every minor event and, perhaps as a result, Wakefield struggling to get close to anything like their full stride.
And yet they could have had the lead on the hour when a quick counter from a ball out from defence played Mole in on goal. Having displayed great strength and determination to win the ball and muscle past the last man, Mole’s shot was too close to the goalkeeper, who made a great stop when 1-v-1. Nine times out of ten Wakefield’s all-time top-scorer would have hit the back of the net, but his wait for the elusive 50th goal for Wakefield must go on.
Not long after, he was moved in to a free role to the right, as Ben Gelder came on up front. The striker did provide a focal point for the away side, but chances remained at a premium. Things weren’t helped from a Wakefield perspective when captain Jack Durkin was given a yellow card and 10 minute sin-bin seemingly for something said to the referee.
The numerical disadvantage didn’t seem to have any affect on the game, which was increasingly looking like it would play out to a goalless draw, particularly after Gelder missed a near open goal from 10 yards when he attempted to shoot first-time from Losa’s excellent, driven cross.
Kenan McKenzie-Grey came on for Morris with just minutes remaining, and he did provide impetus for Wakefield with his blistering pace and directness. He played his part in a dramatic finish, as his aforementioned willingness to run at defenders set the wheels in motion for a Wakefield winner in the third of six additional minutes of added time.
It was a good move, Wakefield’s slickest of the match, with McKenzie-Grey running at the full-back down the left before checking his run and passing back to Sandhu. The midfielder picked out Morgan James in a central area in front of the packed Dronfield box. James played the ball to Losa and continued his run to the edge of the “D”. Losa, facing away from goal, bamboozled his markers with a deft, first-time flick which was immediately struck by James, low and hard to the goalkeeper’s right; the strike initiating wild scenes of celebration from the Wakefield players, bench and fans alike.
Wakefield held on for the much-needed win, on a day where the points were all that mattered. Although clearly not achieving full-flight, Wakefield displayed other important traits of determination, doggedness and a better look about them defensively – as evidenced by the clean-sheet.
The result pushes Wakefield a little further up the table, with them now sitting 16th after three games, albeit having played a game less than many of the other sides. The table will take a back seat however, with Wakefield set for league-cup action on Tuesday 13th August; kick-off at 19:45PM. That will be an immediate re-match, as Dronfield are again the opposition. With the news that Wakefield are set to leave Belle Vue after just one season at Wakefield Trinity’s ground, the cup match will be the first to be played back at Featherstone’s Millennium Stadium, with The Faclons set to make the welcome return to Post Office Road for the next two years; a place where many happy memories are held for Wakefield, and it is hoped many more will be made.
Match Stats
Half Time: 0-0
Full Time: 0-1
Attendance: 185
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Hagie Damba – Steve Smith, Jack Durkin (C), Kieran Haigh, Callum Charlton – Morgan James, Jaydan Sandhu – Mason Rubie, Scott Smith, Kiyani Morris – Billy Mole
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
46m, Sebastian Losa for Mason Rubie
58m, Jayden John for Kieran Haigh
65m, Ben Gelder for Scott Smith
87m, Kenan McKenzie-Grey for Kiyani Morris
90+6m, Rylee Grove for Jaydan Sandhu
Possession:
Dronfield Town 37% – 63% Wakefield AFC
Passes Completed:
Dronfield Town 116 – 199 Wakefield AFC
Goals:
90+3m, Morgan James
Wakefield AFC Assists:
90+3m, Sebastian Losa
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Jack Durkin (Yellow)
Kenan McKenzie-Grey (Yellow)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 2
Second Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shot off Target: 5
Dronfield Town
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shots off Target: 2