Saturday 30th August 2025 | Austin Ainsworth
Wakefield AFC have endured another turbulent start to what is now their fourth season in the NCEL Division One, with a run of poor results preceding another managerial change. And, just like last season, the early signs are that that has had a positive effect on performance, with new manager Jason Blunt steering Wakefield to an impressive win away at early pace-setters Armthorpe Welfare in his first game.
With no real time to get to work on the training pitch, Blunt looked to guide Wakefield through a double dose of league action this past week; with a home fixture against Nostell Miners Welfare on Tuesday evening, followed by the short trip to Athersley Recreation on Saturday afternoon.
The task was simple for Blunt and Wakefield – follow up the impressive result gained at Armthorpe with maximum points from the week’s two games, in order to kick-start Wakefield’s season and their aims of a quick ascent up the table.
Blunt made some changes to his side on Tuesday against Nostell with several players missing, though initially stuck with the back three seen against Armthorpe, as Ashley Grayson returned to the backline in place of T’Nique Fishley.
Further forward there was more of an attacking look to the side as – with Callum Nicell absent – the more attack minded duo of Billy Mole and Tom Hinton formed the basis of the midfield, whilst top-scorer Akeel Francis dropped into a position just behind the front two of Ash Flynn and Max Rhodes.
Wakefield were steady if not spectacular in an evenly matched first half, but did get off to a dream start when Flynn opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Hinton will be credited with yet another assist, after his impeccable right-footed delivery from a corner-kick saw Flynn flick a header in at the near post after a brilliant run across goal. However, an asterisk should go with the goal also crediting Francis for his work in winning the corner initially, as his tireless running and subsequent strength and skill saw him retrieve a lost cause near the dead ball line and then somehow win a corner when surrounded by a posse of Nostell defenders.
That desire and intensity was a hallmark of the team performance in the previous game against Armthorpe, and seems to be a non-negotiable for Wakefield’s new manager, who was incessant in his prompts and instructions throughout this match.
Although Wakefield were again excellent off the ball, things didn’t always come off in the first half for Wakefield from an attacking perspective, and there were signs of frustration from Blunt when attacks were forced and possession ceded.
There was little action in front of either goal for the remainder of the half, in what was a scrappy affair. Changes were made to Wakefield’s shape at the start of the second half, as it became apparent the home side had moved to a back four, with Bolton Makwedza moving over to right-back as Igor Mlynarski moved to a more advanced role down the right.
There was a greater purpose from Wakefield, who were better on the ball and played the game in the Nostell half. Mole and Hinton controlled the match, with the latter eventually claiming his fourth assist this season from another excellently delivered corner-kick on 60 minutes. It was a similar goal to the first, as this time Grayson capped off a fine defensive performance with a first goal for Wakefield, as he stole a yard on his marker before executing a bullet-header into goal at the near post to double his side’s advantage.
By this point Wakefield were exuding class and composure in controlling what was becoming an increasingly rough affair, one which saw a setback as Francis fell victim to a late, and over-exuberant challenge which forced him off the field.
That brought only a yellow card, though Nostell did eventually lose a man when a red was shown for another similar challenge. However, by that point Wakefield had extended their lead to three goals as Hinton capped off a fine performance with a strike from distance. Flynn initially held the ball up on the edge of the box and fed it back to the midfielder 35 yards from goal, who then tried his luck with a vicious shot that dipped and swerved all the way to ex-Wakey favourite George Bason in the Nostell goal. He was caught flat-footed and completely by surprise, as the ball squirmed its way under him and into goal.
Wakefield should have extended their lead even further, as debutant Zante Rose-Campbell came off the bench and saw a shot cleared off the line, with other good chances from Flynn and Hinton also going close.
Nonetheless, three goals and three points was more than sufficient for Blunt’s home debut, along with Wakefield’s first back-to-back wins of the season.
That led The Falcons nicely into Saturday’s fixture at Athersley who – after never finishing higher than 18th in Wakefield’s three previous NCEL seasons – had made a promising start to this campaign with three wins in their opening fixtures seeing them start the game in 14th place, with just one point less than Wakefield.
Blunt made one change to the side, as Nicell returned to midfield in place of the injured Francis. The shape was different however, as Wakefield continued with the 4-3-3 seen in the second half against Nostell, meaning Makwedza started at right back, Rhodes played off the left-wing and Mlynarski again saw himself further upfield on the right-wing.
The plan seemed to work, as both Makwedza and Mlynarski put in eye-catching displays down the right side. However, just as in midweek, the game was a tale of two halves for Wakefield, who struggled to move up the gears in a first period that saw Athersley threaten Wakefield with regularity. Good news for Wakefield then that captain Chris Salt put a characteristically imperious performance in, alongside the equally impressive Grayson, as the two fended off every attack and headed clear every long ball.
With the similarities from midweek striking, Wakefield again took an early lead despite struggling at times in the opening 45 minutes, before cruising to a dominant and deserved 3-0 win following a much improved second half.
That first goal again came through Flynn, and came earlier this time with a thumping finish in the sixth minute. Owen Thomas initially pumped a long throw-in into the box which was only half-cleared as far as Mlynarski. He showed great awareness to spot Flynn out of the corner of his right eye, and fed the striker with a sweet, outside-of-the-boot pass. Flynn did the rest with a rasping drive in to the roof of the net on the half-volley for his fourth goal of the season.
Soon after, Flynn fell short with a golden opportunity when one-v-one, as the ‘keeper made a fine save with his legs but, as stated, it was Athersley who had the better chances in the half. Owen Evans made a couple of good saves, though the home side’s best chances actually failed to test the Wakey shot-stopper, when on at least two occasions they found themselves in on goal only to drag their efforts wide.
Athersley would rue those missed chances, as Wakefield were a different beast in the second period – again led through a dominant midfield display full of class and quality. And it was Hinton who put the biggest marker down for man-of-the-match, with two goals to take his tally to four for the season.
The first of those in the 50th minute also saw the midfielder lay down a marker for goal-of-the-season, or decade for that matter, such was the audacity of the effort. Stood just inside the Athersley half, he intercepted a free-kick taken by the Athersley goalkeeper who had come way out of his area to take the set-piece. The interception was a thing of beauty in itself, as Hinton crossed his right foot behind his left à la rabona to kill the ball with one touch. Things went full maverick from then on as, without even looking up, he looped a shot at goal and walked off like Tiger Woods holing a put, with his hand raised in triumph before the ball was barely even halfway to goal. Sure enough, the shot nestled perfectly inside the goal to send the Wakefield players, fans and staff into wild scenes of celebration.
The goal was worthy of winning any game, but Hinton made doubly sure when he completed a fine Wakey move in the 68th minute that saw Flynn play him into the box with a nifty back-heel, for the midfielder to then finish cooly across goal.
Wakefield had other chances to score in a fine performance, with Lance Freidrich – on for his Wakefield debut – making a promising cameo full of graft and craft, twice teeing up Flynn for good efforts on goal.
Just as in midweek, another three goals, another three points and another clean-sheet was no more than Wakefield deserved, and was enough to send the Wakefield contingent home happy.
The result, Wakefield’s third win in succession, also saw Wakefield move back into fourth place and a play-off spot, a good reminder after the early season woes that football moves quickly and fortunes can change.
With that in mind, Wakefield’s task is to keep that motion moving forward, with Blunt himself tantalisingly professing after the game that there is more to come from his side. The next opportunity to see evidence of that comes on Wednesday evening, as Wakefield make the long trip to face bottom-placed Winterton Rangers; kick-off 19:45PM on 03/09/2025.
Athersley Recreation Match Stats
Half Time: 0-1
Full Time: 0-3
Attendance: 145
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Owen Evans – Bolton Makwedza, Chris Salt (C), Ashley Grayson, Owen Thomas – Callum Nicell, Tom Hinton, Billy Mole – Igor Mlynarski, Ash Flynn, Max Rhodes
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
63m Lance Freidrich for Billy Mole
69m, T’Nique Fishley for Ashley Grayson
73m, Zante Rose-Campbell for Igor Mlynarski
85m, Tidiane Diallo for Ash Flynn
Goals:
6m, Ash Flynn
50m, Tom Hinton
68m, Tom Hinton
Wakefield AFC Assists:
6m, Igor Mlynarski
68m, Ash Flynn
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Tom Hinton (Yellow)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shot off Target: 2
Athersley Recreation
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 4
Second Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shots off Target: 1
Nostell Miners Welfare Match Stats
Half Time: 1-0
Full Time: 3-0
Attendance: 235
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Owen Evans – Bolton Makwedza, Chris Salt (C), Ashley Grayson – Igor Mlynarski, Billy Mole, Tom Hinton, Owen Thomas – Akeel Francis – Ash Flynn, Max Rhodes
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
67m, James Tetley for Akeel Francis
79m, Zante Rose-Campbell for Igor Mlynarski
84m, Tidiane Diallo for Ash Flynn
Possession:
Wakefield AFC 58% – 42% Nostell Miners Welfare
Passes Completed:
Wakefield AFC 261 – 219 Nostell Miners Welfare
Goals:
15m, Ash Flynn
60m, Ashley Grayson
71m, Tom Hinton
Wakefield AFC Assists:
15m, Tom Hinton
60m, Tom Hinton
71m, Ash Flynn
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 8
Shot off Target: 4
Nostell Miners Welfare
First Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shots off Target: 3
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 2