Saturday 18th January 2025 | Austin Ainsworth
After the highs of the derby defeat of Horbury Town that saw Wakefield AFC move back up into the NCEL Division One play-off spots, The Falcons – and the rest of the league – have had to endure a two week lay-off thanks to the recent inclement weather.
The break came at a bad time for Wakefield, who extended their unbeaten run to 11 league games with that impressive victory over rivals Horbury. With 10 wins and just one draw in that run, Wakefield will have no doubt wanted the games to keep coming whilst they ride the wave of momentum that has put them back within reach of the league summit.
Wakefield were finally back in action on Saturday with the long trip to lowly Louth Town. Without a win in eight league games, Louth came in to the game inside the relegation zone, one point from safety.
However, as well as winning in many different ways, Steve Bodle’s Wakefield have also become a side less likely to lose focus or slip-up in games such as this where they enter as favourites. And, Wakefield proved both those points with a fluid, front-foot demolition of their opposition in a heavy contrast to the defensive masterclass last time out.
With two changes to the team that faced Horbury – Callum Charlton restored at left-back and Kiyani Morris in for Callum Brooks on the wing – Wakefield were off to a flying start and found themselves ahead inside four minutes.
Mo Gashi, thanks to the dominance of Wakefield and the solidity provided by midfield partner Scott Smith, was given licence to roam forward and he did just that when he raced in at the back post to meet swivelling striker Shay Evans-Booth’s outrageous cross from the left. Gashi still had work to do but finished with aplomb, guiding his side-foot volley high in to the net for his third goal of the season.
Aside from a good Owen Evans save in the Wakefield goal when Louth should have done better with their counter-attacking opportunity, the game was all Wakefield and the score soon reflected that fact when Morris doubled Wakefield’s lead in the 16th minute.
Just as Gashi before him, he had Evans-Booth to thank after the striker – with his fifth assist in as many games – made a nuisance of himself to meet Aaron Pilkington’s neat, dinked pass over the defence before letting the ball roll for Morris to execute an ice cold finish in at the near post.
Morris – always a threat down the left – had further chances to score throughout the half but had to wait until just before half-time to eventually double his tally. It was an excellent transition from Wakefield, with Smith showing his footballing IQ as he positioned himself perfectly as the midfield pivot to receive a short pass and then play a raking, cross-field ball out to Morris on the left. The winger drove at the defence, shifted the ball to his right and then struck a thumping shot that benefitted from a slight deflection to loop over the Louth ‘keeper.
The three goals were the least Wakefield deserved for their first half superiority and, despite the second half often resembling a training exercise, neither Wakefield’s tempo nor temperament wavered in an almost equally impressive display that reaped two further goals.
On their way to a fifth clean-sheet in a row, captain Brad McGowan and centre-back partner Christ Salt again did their defensive duty without fault. They then found time to combine for Wakefield’s fourth goal on the hour mark when Salt rose to meet Jaydan Sandhu’s whipped corner at the back post. McGowan had two attempts at a close-range shot, eventually poking the ball home after his initial effort was saved to make it an impressive three goals in seven games since his move to the club.
Wakefield continued to toy with Louth and nearly had a fifth through Evans-Booth, who was denied from close-range in the 73rd minute. The striker’s work-rate, hold-up play, positioning and ability to bring others in to the game was on display throughout the game, as it has been since his move to the club. Despite that, and the raft of assists he has to his name, he remained without a goal for Wakefield and would have been desperate to get off the mark here. Thankfully, he capped off his fine performance to break his duck when that aforementioned effort from close-range was cleared only as far as Gashi. The midfielder drilled the ball back into the striker’s feet who, with his body sideways-on to goal, hit a superb, first-time shot back across the goalkeeper and inside the far corner.
The win was everything that Wakefield and the impressive number of fans that made the long trip would have wanted after the enforced two week break; another clean-sheet, dominance on and off the ball and a handful of goals of the highest quality. Furthermore, the result moves Wakefield up to third in the league, just a point behind Brigg Town who have played two games more.
The Falcons will now look to continue their impressive run when they return to The Millennium Stadium with Maltby Main the visitors on Saturday 25th January 2025; kick-off: 15:00PM.
Match Stats
Half Time: 0-3
Full Time: 0-5
Attendance: 96
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Owen Evans – Aaron Pilkington, Chris Salt, Brad McGowan (C), Callum Charlton – Scott Smith, Mo Gashi – Curtis Morrison, Jaydan Sandhu, Kiyani Morris – Shay Evans-Booth
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
61m, Mwiya Malumo for Curtis Morrison
67m, Morgan James for Scott Smith
74m, Sebastian Losa for Aaron Pilkington
74m, Kenan McKenzie-Grey for Jaydan Sandhu
75m, Nana Nyarko for Kiyani Morris
Possession:
Louth Town 29% – 71% Wakefield AFC
Passes Completed:
Louth Town 139 – 291 Wakefield AFC
Goals:
4m, Mo Gashi
16, Kiyani Morris
43m, Kiyani Morris
60m, Brad McGowan
73m, Shay Evans-Booth
Wakefield AFC Assists:
4m, Shay Evans-Booth
16m, Shay Evans-Booth
43m, Scott Smith
60m, Chris Salt
73m, Mo Gashi
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Scot Smith (Yellow)
Jaydan Sandhu (Yellow)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 6
Shots off Target: 8
Second Half
Shots on Target: 4
Shot off Target: 4
Louth Town
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 2