Saturday 15th February 2025 | Austin Ainsworth
The fight at the top of the NCEL Division One is starting to hot-up after Wombwell Town defeated league leaders Horbury last week. With Wakefield on a run of 14 wins from 15 and starting the weekend in fourth, they went in to their fixture away at Shelley knowing a continuation of their winning run could see them in a position to eventually overhaul Horbury, once games in hand are played, particularly as Horbury themselves faced another tough game away at third placed Brigg Town.
Wakefield, laser-like in their focus of late, would have only had their eyes on the game at hand however, and Shelley – 15th in the league, but having already taken points off two of the teams above Wakefield this season – were never likely to be push-overs for The Falcons.
Things were also made less straight-forward for Wakey manager Steve Bodle, who had goalkeeper Owen Evans and striker Shay Evans-Booth unavailable. That meant more work in the transfer market as ‘keeper Tom Crosby and striker Romario Dunne were both signed in the last week – the latter on a short-term loan, having more recently played several steps higher than the NCEL.
Crosby went straight in to the line-up to become Wakefield’s 10th different goalkeeper to feature this season, whilst Dunne also started up-front in what was otherwise a team unchanged from last week’s defeat of Selby Town.
Goalless draws are a rare occurrence in the chaotic lower-echelons of the English football pyramid, and they are even rarer for Wakefield who, prior to this game, had only featured in two in their near three seasons in the NCEL. However, that is what occurred on a disappointing day for Wakefield, who were dominant throughout but struggled in front of goal.
0-0 draws are rarely enthralling affairs and this was no different, with the greatest interest from a Wakefield perspective the chance to see new-signing Dunne in action and, similarly, another opportunity to see Billy Mole from the start after his recent return to the club.
Those two were Wakefield’s brightest sparks, and the former nearly had a dream start moments after kick-off when a Shelley attack was intercepted by Scott Smith, who played a long ball up to the striker, who backed in to his marker and spun him with ease. Farcically, just as he raced through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat, the referee’s attention was drawn to his linesman in Wakefield’s half who had raised his flag for Shelley’s initial attack. The whistle was blown, and play brought back for a Wakefield free-kick, despite the Shelley attacker having never received the ball.
More was to come from Dunne, who later showed his prowess on the edge of the Shelley box when he nonchalantly took a ball down on his chest and fired a looping volley over the ‘keeper that landed just the wrong side of the bar.
Fellow new signing Crosby was largely a spectator in the Wakefield goal, mainly taking the chance to impress through his command of the box and distribution. However, he saved his side in the 10th minute with a fingertip save to tip a fierce, close-range shot over the bar in what was Shelley’s only attempt on goal in the game.
Unfortunately, for all of Wakefield’s positive play and command of the game, the Shelley goalkeeper was equally underworked, as only two of the away side’s 17 shots found their target. Mole – a live wire in all areas of the pitch, looked every bit the player that many fans would argue has been Wakefield’s best in their short history – but he was again unlucky in front of goal as he continues to struggle to get the monkey off his back and become the first to reach 50 goals for the club.
He had two good efforts in the first period and then shortly after the start of the second half made an excellent run across the face of goal to meet Mo Gashi’s cross at the near post. He controlled the ball beautifully but could only turn and strike his shot off the outside of the post from a tight angle.
Manager Bodle shuffled his pack midway through the half, bringing Jaydan Sandhu on in an attacking move that saw winger Kiyani Morris move to right-back, and Wakefield shift to a new system with two no. 10s and two central strikers. Sandhu made an impact in and around the box and was at the heart of more refereeing controversy when he took control of the ball near the penalty spot, but was bundled over from behind in what appeared a stonewall penalty that wasn’t given.
Nothing seemed to work for Wakefield, who eventually reverted to a more conventional, 4-2-4 formation, in an effort to stretch the pitch. Chances did come towards the end of the game, the best right at the end of injury time when defender Chris Salt rose to meet a corner kick, headed the ball down on the line from two yards but somehow saw his effort saved by the lightning reactions of the Shelley ‘keeper.
It meant Wakefield had to settle for a draw, a result that stretches their unbeaten run to 16 games, but ultimately a result that will feel more like two points dropped than one point gained. It would be fantasy to suggest Wakefield will win every game between now and the end of the season, so games like this were always going to come along. And, positives remain, particularly through their continued excellence in defence and their overall dominance of the game.
There will no doubt be more twists and turns this season, particularly as Wakefield – who remain fourth – next face a trip to Brigg Town, who themselves held Horbury to a draw on Saturday. That fixture comes quickly, with Wakefield making the long trip to Lincolnshire on Tuesday 18th February 2025; kick-off: 19:45PM.
Match Stats
Half Time: 0-0
Full Time: 0-0
Attendance: 198
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Tom Crosby – Kenan McKenzie-Grey, Chris Salt, Brad McGowan (C), Callum Charlton – Scott Smith, Mo Gashi – Curtis Morrison, Billy Mole, Kiyani Morris – Romario Dunne
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
59m, Jaydan Sandhu for Kenan McKenzie-Grey
70m, Nana Nyarko for Curtis Morrison
70m, Mwiya Malumo for Romario Dunne
Possession:
Shelley 29% – 71% Wakefield AFC
Passes Completed:
Shelley 67 – 216 Wakefield AFC
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Callum Charlton (Yellow)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 6
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shot off Target: 9
Shelley
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shots off Target: 2