Goals:
3m Rayjon Moore
8m Frecheville Davys (Pen)
10m Jack Enkh
19m Thomas Eclapier
43m Jamie Hardwick
Starting XI:
Ryan Eades, Jean Merour, Adeyemi Ayodele, Marvin Emmanuel, Jack Enkh
Manny Katundu (capt), Kyron Richards, Jamie Hardwick
Thomas Eclapier, Nathan Weekes, Rayjon Moore
Subs Used:
70m Noah Hamelberg for Thomas Eclapier
70m Jacob Bevan for Nathan Weekes
75m Lennard Okalo for Rayjon Moore
Bookings: Thomas Eclapier
When football pundits use the expression ‘a game of two halves’ it usually describes one team having the better of the first half and their opposition the better of the second. On Saturday we had a game of two halves despite being the better team in both. The difference was putting away four goals in the first half and missing at least five more golden chances in the second.The conditions were perfectly dry and sunny (if a little breezy) for our first home game on the actual grass pitch at the Dorothy Hyman. We’ve had one home game on the 4G pitch and three away games before this and a lively crowd of over fifty turned up for our full home debut.Before the match, I asked manager Chris Turner if the team had put Wednesday’s defeat by Swinton Athletic behind them. He said “Well I hope so. It was one of those nights where one or two things didn’t go well for us and some silly mistakes cost us some goals. The better team on the night won and we didn’t perform as well as we can do. There’s a few changes today and I’m hoping that the boys that have come in will grab their chance and keep their place”.With Adeyemi Ayodele returning to the team at centre-back it allowed Kyron Richards to move into a defensive midfielder road. Turner switched to a 4-3-3 style and French lad Thomas Eclapier made his debut up front. Bermudan keeper was away with the national team so Ryan Eades continued in goal.There was a hectic start to the game with three goals inside the first ten minutes. Wakefield’s opener came from a set piece as a right wing corner came into the box driven low. It caused confusion in the Frecheville defence and Rayjon Moore powered the ball home for his second goal of the season after just three minutes. The lead didn’t last long though as the referee then awarded Frecheville a penalty just five minutes later. It’s the third penalty Wakefield have conceded in just five games and the lads really need to focus on not making silly mistakes that cost goals. The penalty was for a push on the away side’s attacker and keeper Ryan Eades couldn’t do anything about the thunderous shot.Wakefield retook the lead within a couple of minutes when Moore stayed onside to raid down the right and cross low into the box. His cut-back was behind Nathan Weekes but left-back Jack Enkh came storming onto the loose ball to score his first of the season with an accurate, driven shot. There were also two more chances to extend the lead over the next few minutes as a Manny Kutundu shot stung the hands of the Frecheville keeper and Moore missed a sitter when Enkh went on another raid down the left and crossed low to the far post from the byline.The third goal finally came courtesy of Thomas Eclapier with a precise lob from thirty yards out. Seeing the keeper off his line, the French debutant chipped the ball high and it seemed to take an age to come down on target and bounce into the net for 3-1. Jamie Hardwick then added to the tally with his first of the season before half time. His passing had been superb throughout the game and he showed his finishing isn’t too bad either with a great shot as he met Eclapier’s cross just two minutes before half time. The final excitement of the first half saw Eades come off his line to close down a striker but not get the ball. The Frecheville striker got his shot on target at the open goal only for Marvin Emmanuel to appear out of nowhere to block the ball on the line with a sliding tackle.It seemed in the second half that the 4-1 had stopped the match being a contect for either side. Frecheville didn’t appear to have the determination or energy to claw their way back into the game while Wakefield sat comfortably on their three-goal advantage. The home fans who had been vocal throughout the first half were also much quieter in the second, perhaps relaxing in the comfort of their team’s dominance.There were certainly chances to extend the lead and the manager was clearly not happy that they weren’t taken. The clearest one was when Nathan Weekes beat the keeper to the ball on the right of the box only to place his shot at the open goal onto the woodwork. Other chances for Moore, Richards and debut sub Jacob Bevan were wasted but the fans were still delighted at full time to come away with such a clear win after a 3-0 loss in the previous game.After the game I spoke to captain Manny Kutundu for this thoughts. He told me “It’s great and obviously a great reaction from the last game which was a little disappointing. We started with the right tempo and I think we followed it straight throughout the game. We had a good five clearcut chances (in the second half) which we should have put away but that’s another learning curve. Now we rest up and back tomorrow training ready for the next game”