Saturday 25th October 2025 | Austin Ainsworth
Wakefield AFC headed into this past week having hit a stumbling block last time out against Leeds UFCA; a disappointing home loss putting an end to a run of excellent form and results.
There was now a chance for redemption on two fronts, with The Falcons in cup action on Tuesday evening at home, as NCEL Premier Division side Eccleshill United visited for a West Riding County Cup First Round Tie; before then making the long trip to face relegation threatened Appleby Frodingham, looking to make progress back up the NCEL Division One table.
Despite Eccleshill’s higher league standing, Wakefield manager Jason Blunt made a raft of changes as he looked to rest first team regulars, whilst simultaneously finding minutes for the rest of his squad. He did stick with what is becoming his preferred 3-5-2 formation; Lorenzo Tejeda making just his second Wakefield appearance in a back three missing captain Chris Salt. Similarly, Luke Malinder made his first appearance in the Wakefield goal. There was also a new look midfield, as Corey McCombe and James Tetley made rare starts, with Zante Rose-Campbell operating as wing-back. Blunt also opted for the unlikely strike partnership of Lance Friedrich and Oli Robinson – neither of whom are recognised strikers. Billy Mole, Igor Mlynarski and T’Nique Fishley were however on hand to provide some experience and first-team continuity.
Eccleshill were also no doubt much changed from their own strongest 11, but that made for an evenly matched game between two sides that were evidently eager to progress in the cup.
Robinson – electric all night, offering an injection of pace and quality on the ball – laid down an early marker for what would eventually become a man-of-the-match performance with a goal after just five minutes.
McCombe played a starring role in the goal, driving through midfield before shifting the ball sideways to Robinson 20 yards from goal. The young attacker burst past two defenders and into the opposition box, before beautifully slotting the ball low, to the ‘keeper’s left.
The away side responded and had chances, eventually equalising after 21 minutes when Wakefield failed to clear the ball. That allowed Eccleshill to pass to their man on the edge of the box who drilled a shot-cum-pass towards goal, where the unmarked Zackary Sangster was on hand to stick a toe out to divert the ball in the opposite direction to which Malinder was diving.
The game remained even until a pivotal incident in the 39th minute. In what was a nothing moment, their defender stumbled over a ball he failed to control 25 yards from goal. That allowed Friedrich to pounce, and as he did so he tripped over the outstretched leg of the falling Eccleshill player. The foul was awarded and, somewhat controversially, the referee deemed the player to have been the last man denying Friedrich a goalscoring opportunity, and Eccleshill were subsequently reduced to 10 men.
You wouldn’t have immediately known that, with Eccleshill going closest to goal for the remainder of the half. However, it was a different story in the second period, as Wakefield bossed the game and carved out several good chances.
A breakthrough eventually arrived in the 79th minute as defender Kenneth Effah travelled upfield for a set-piece. He continued to loiter in a striker’s position after the ball was cleared, as Wakefield expertly recycled the ball from left to right with intricacy and precision. Eventually substitute Bolton Makwedza cut the ball back from the right for Robinson to loop an in-swinging cross to the back post. Effah rose high to power through the defender, making minimal contact with his initial header but showing enough strength to get the other side of his marker and tap the ball into the net to secure Wakefield’s progression in the cup.
That left a more familiar looking Wakefield side with the task of completing a perfect week on Saturday, as they travelled to Appleby looking to make amends for a lacklustre and flat performance in their previous league outing. The formation remained the same but nine changes were made to the starting 11 from midweek, with the only notable absentee being the suspended Mole.
Wakefield’s last trip to this ground was a truly frustrating affair, as a stubborn Appleby side held them to a damaging draw just as they were pushing for the league title last season. But this game couldn’t have been more different, as a rampant Wakefield utterly dominated the home side in every metric.
That being said, Appleby did keep themselves in the game until close to half-time, with Wakefield slick in possession and dangerous up-front but unable to break through a resilient, and competitive home side.
Akeel Francis – with seven goals in seven games prior to an injury sustained two months ago – was restored to the side and marked his recent return from injury with a goal following three games without one post-injury. Mo Conteh was the creator, with an exquisite long ball out from the back that played Francis in on goal. The imposing striker then cut back onto his right foot, and guided his shot to the far post with enough bend on the ball to beat the diving ‘keeper.
10 minutes before half-time, the goal was vital and no doubt punctured any rising hope from Appleby that they could engineer a repeat of last season’s performance. The floodgates were opened for Wakefield and another goal soon followed just before half-time – the first of two from Ash Flynn, who put in another imperious display.
Mlynarski initially pitched a ball over for the marauding run of right centre-back Makwedza. He progressed into the final third and delivered a perfect cross for Flynn to control on the left side of goal. The striker then snapped back onto his right foot to sit the defence down, before calmly picking his spot to double Wakefield’s lead.
The Falcons upped the ante in the second period, Flynn adding Wakefield’s third – his 17th of the season in 21 games in all competitions – after another flowing move. This time defender Owen Thomas sought out some adventure with a foray upfield, before sliding an inch-perfect pass through to Flynn on the half-turn just inside the box. Flynn shielded the ball perfectly and turned to goal with a flawless touch; his controlled, curling strike subsequently leaving the goalkeeper no chance.
Wakefield were now toying with Appleby, sustaining long periods of possession with supreme confidence. One such passage of play in the 55th minute eventually saw Francis spark things into life with a visionary thru-ball to find the looping run of Tom Hinton into the box from the left. Hinton then fired the ball high into the net, to continue his own purple patch for Wakefield, with what is now his 21st goal involvement in just 19 games.
Wakefield were cruising to victory and were denied further goals by both luck and some excellent goalkeeping; Flynn missing out on a hat-trick as he twice went close late on. There was still time for Wakefield to extend their lead however, with substitutes Zante Rose-Campbell and Oli Robinson leaving their mark on the game as it drew to a close.
First up was Rose-Campbell who benefitted from excellent work from Robinson, who charged in off the right and found Rose-Campbell with a good pass into the box. The latter then shifted on to his right foot and looked to curl the ball towards goal, his effort deflecting fortuitously off the defender and looping over the goalkeeper into the far side of goal.
Robinson, not content with just an assist, then added a goal of his own with the last move of the game, after Mlynarski carried the ball towards the box and squared for Flynn. The striker, hungry for his hat-trick, slalomed back towards the centre of the box but just overrun the ball, at which point Robinson attempted a toe-poked shot from six yards out. That effort was blocked and deflected upwards, but came right back down for him to finish easily into goal to make it Wakefield six; Appleby Frodingham nil.
With the impressive result matched equally by a commanding performance, Wakefield no-doubt made the long trip back full of renewed confidence and momentum, having solidified their play-off position of fourth.
They will now look to carry this form into another tough test at home in their next fixture – eighth placed Maltby Main on Friday 31st October 2025; kick-off: 19:45PM.
Appleby Frodingham Match Stats
Half Time: 0-2
Full Time: 0-6
Attendance: 115
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Drew Bremer – Bolton Makwedza, Chris Salt (C), T’Nique Fishley – Igor Mlynarski, Callum Nicell, Mo Conteh, Owen Thomas – Tom Hinton – Ash Flynn, Akeel Francis
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
60m, Oli Robinson for Akeel Francis
73m, Lance Friedrich for Tom Hinton
75m, Zante Rose-Campbell for Owen Thomas
Possession:
Appleby Frodingham 32% – 68% Wakefield AFC
Passes Completed:
Appleby Frodingham 144 – 369 Wakefield AFC
Goals:
30m, Akeel Francis
45m, Ash Flynn
52m, Ash Flynn
55m, Tom Hinton
86m, Zante Rose-Campbell
90m+3, Oli Robinson
Wakefield AFC Assists:
30, Mo Conteh
45m, Bolton Makwedza
52m, Owen Thomas
55m, Akeel Francis
86m, Oli Robinson
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 4
Shots off Target: 1
Second Half
Shots on Target: 9
Shot off Target: 2
Appleby Frodingham
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 0
Second Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shots off Target: 0
Eccleshill United Match Stats
Half Time: 1-1
Full Time: 2-1
Attendance: 122
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Luke Mallinder – T’Nique Fishley, Kenneth Effah, Lorenzo Tejeda – Igor Mlynarski, James Tetley, Corey McCombe, Zante Rose-Campbell – Billy Mole (C) – Oli Robinson, Lance Friedrich
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
46m, Bolton Makwedza for Igor Młynarski
46m, Mo Conteh for Corey McCombe
46m, Owen Thomas for T’Nique Fishley
Possession:
Wakefield AFC 62% – 38% Eccleshill United
Passes Completed:
Wakefield AFC 371 – 247 Eccleshill United
Goals:
5m, Oli Robinson
21m, Zackary Sangster
79m, Kenneth Effah
Wakefield AFC Assists:
16m, Corey McCombe
79m, Oli Robinson
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Kenneth Effah (Yellow)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 2
Second Half
Shots on Target: 4
Shot off Target: 4
Eccleshill United
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 3
Second Half
Shots on Target: 0
Shots off Target: 1