Saturday 17th September 2026 | Austin Ainsworth
In a month where the nights get darker and the temperature cools, Wakefield AFC have seen the light as their own performances hotted up in a strong October that has seen them go five games unbeaten in all competitions – winning their last four.
On Saturday, the high-flying Falcons – now in the fifth and final NCEL Division One play-off spot after a return to form under manager Adam Lockwood – travelled to 14th placed Club Thorne Colliery, who themselves came into the match after a positive result last time out where they thrashed Selby Town 5-2.
Lockwood, forced into changes by the untimely absences of strikers James Eyles and Jake Morrison, again made a change to his formation with a return to a back three, with his preferred option of a three man defence allowed by the return of captain Owen Thomas from injury, who slotted in alongside Josh Lockwood and Matthew Swift following the departure of Mo Conteh from the club.
That meant Callum Charlton continued in the left wing-back spot, as did Jay Davies and Callum Nicell in midfield. With striking options limited, both Harley Blankley and Kenzie Dillon started as wide 10’s or inside forwards, behind Symeon Corion up-front.
In an end-to-end first half in which neither side ever really gained a modicum of control, Thorne threatened first with a header sent narrowly wide and then stung the palms of Wakey goalkeeper Drew Bremer after some good possession on the edge of the box saw a fierce shot parried, and then caught, by Wakefield’s shot-stopper.
Wakefield’s closest sight of goal came from distance as Jay Davies – excellent of late, and again looking to drive Wakefield forward from midfield – tried his look from several occasions from distance. Two audacious efforts went well over the bar, though he went within an inch of scoring just before the interval when he curled an in-swinging free-kick into the box that was so teasing it went all the way through to goal, bouncing in front of the ‘keeper and up onto the crossbar.
The second period was just as evenly matched, though became a little more disjointed as the pace slowed somewhat and possession changed hands with even more regularity than the first half.
The away side still had some slick footballing moments and had the best chance of the half shortly after the introduction of Mason Rubie. A good move saw the ball worked down the right before Dillon drilled a low cross to the back post. Rubie made an excellently timed run and arrived in perfect time to connect with the cross for a first time finish. Somehow, from barely three yards, the ball flicked upwards and off the side of the crossbar, denying Rubie his 34th goal for the club.
Other than that, neither side looked close to scoring in a match that seemed certain to end in a goalless draw. That result would probably have been a fair reflection on the game, however two decisive interventions from the referee stacked the odds against Wakefield. First, substitute Harry Shepherd was shown a yellow card for dissent 10 minutes from the end, which meant he was sent to the sin-bin and Wakefield had to end the game with 10 men.
Then, as the match moved into injury time and the outnumbered Wakefield looked to have held on for the draw, Davies was shown a straight red-card for a robust, sliding tackle in his own half. He appeared to have taken the ball, though the fierceness of the challenge and a leg that flicked up on contact perhaps made the challenge look worse than it was. It was the type of tackle that no-one would have batted an eye-lid at in years gone by, but one – in the modern footballing world – that runs the risk of a different interpretation from the referee.
To compound matters, with almost the last act of the game, Wakefield were cruelly punished when the resulting free-kick was swung in for the head of a Thorne player who looked to have started from an offside position. His point-blank header was somehow saved by the excellent Bremer who produced a Schmeichel-esque, starfish jump to deflect the ball with a flailing leg. However, the ball bounced for Reiss Harrison and bounced straight back off him into the Wakefield goal.
The defeat, Wakefield’s first in a month, saw them drop one place to sixth in the league, whilst Thorne moved up to 13th. The Falcons, after a confidence boosting run of form, are still well in the hunt in the league though, with just one point separating them from the final play-off spot.
Wakefield now have a free midweek before travelling to 11th placed Liv on Saturday; kick:off 15:00PM on 24/10/2026.
Match Stats
Half Time: 0-0
Full Time: 1-0
Attendance: 143
Wakefield AFC Starting XI:
Drew Bremer – Matthew Swift, Josh Lockwood, Owen Thomas (C) – Zak Cottle, Jay Davies, Callum Nicell, Callum Charlton – Kenzie Dillon, Harley Blankley – Symeon Corion
Wakefield AFC Subs Used:
69m, Harry Shepherd for Symeon Corion
75m, Mason Rubie for Owen Thomas
90m, Jordan Chippendale for Harley Blankley
Goals:
90m, Reiss Harrison
Wakefield AFC Cards:
Owen Thomas (Yellow)
Harry Shepherd (Yellow/Sin-Bin)
Jay Davies (Red)
Attempts
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 5
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shot off Target: 1
Club Thorne Colliery
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 2
Second Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 3