Saturday 18th January 2020 | Austin Ainsworth
Wakefield AFC’s recent downturn in form plunged to new depths on a day to forget, as they travelled to face Grimethorpe LLUK FC at the Love Life Sports Ground in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League.
The fixture was as close to a derby as it could get for Wakefield, who are currently based just down the road in Cudworth. As such it was an opportunity for the visitors – fifth at the start of play – to move back in to the top four and also get one over on their local rivals, who started the day in sixth, one point below Wakefield. It wasn’t meant to be though, as a clinical Grimethorpe scored five unanswered goals to consign Wakefield to their biggest ever defeat.
Chris Turner, again juggling between absences, injuries and new recruits, made four changes to the side beaten 3-0 in the previous game at High Green Villa. Amongst them were a debut for left-back Seyavoush Esmaeily and a return from suspension for Noah Hamelberg, who played as one of two strikers. Goalkeeper Quineaceo Hunt and central-defender Yemi Ayodele also returned to the side, while right-back Monaye Mitchell and centre-back Sobomate Harry played their second games for the club. Cedric Kouakou, midfielders Mustapha Coker, Kyron Richards, Manny Katundu and striker Nathan Weekes completed the line-up in what was a 3-5-2 formation.
Wakefield, hoping for a reaction after the previous five games without a win or goal, started on the front foot and looked, as they often do, to control possession in midfield. Grimethorpe were resolute, with two banks of four in defence and their two strikers left up-front for the counter. The tactics were simple but effective and after some early unpunished crunching tackles that let Wakefield know they wouldn’t be able to just pass the ball around at will, Grimethorpe sprung for their first goal in the 10th minute.
Grimethorpe, not for the first or last time in the game, played an accurate long ball in to the feet of one of their target men. In the blink of an eye he had flicked the ball in behind all three Wakefield defenders on to his waiting strike partner. With one touch to settle himself, he smashed the ball low and hard to Hunt’s left. It was a moment of brutal efficiency and no doubt left Wakefield wondering how they had again fallen behind in a game that they had thus far played well in.
Wakefield, who did offer a reaction, continued to try and play their football and had good chances to equalise. Hamelberg, who was as tenacious as ever up front against a strong Grimethorpe defence, nearly had his third goal of the season when he worked a shot from a tight angle that hit the side netting. After further good play, captain Katundu then thought he’d finally got Wakefield back amongst the goals when he was put through on goal. The goalkeeper made a good save in tipping his shot on to the post, before the ball agonisingly appeared to hold up on the goal line to deny Katundu his eighth goal of the season.
It was all for nought though, as an experienced Grimethorpe got back to teaching the visitors a harsh lesson in football at this level. For all of Wakefield’s skill on the ball and composure in possession, they were exposed in defence. Grimethorpe bagged their second goal from a needlessly conceded free-kick close to the left edge of the penalty area. After a good delivery, a Grimethorpe player pounced on the loose ball to smash it home. Minutes later, after another silly free-kick that Hunt excellently tipped over the bar, Wakefield failed to clear their lines from the resultant corner. The Grimethorpe winger went past Mitchell down the right like he wasn’t there and delivered a pin-point cross that was headed in to the back of the net to make it 3-0.
Wakefield looked to respond at the start of the second half and had it not been for the linesman’s flag, would have finally got the elusive goal through Hamelberg who had made an excellent run to round the goalkeeper. It was a false dawn as Grimethorpe went up the other end and made it 4-0 from a tap-in, after Mitchell lost out during a physical battle with the bigger forward player.
Things went from bad to worse in the 54th minute when Harry saw red for a silly slap-out at a Grimethorpe striker. It had been coming as the Grimethorpe players, smart on and off the ball, had clearly been engaging in some wind-up tactics looking for a response. Harry gave them it and Wakefield were down to 10 men as a result. Richards swapped with Kouakou in defence and Wakefield, now in a 4-3-2 formation, actually improved. They saw more of the ball and won it back well, but fell to a swift counter-attack in the 63rd minute that led to the two Grimethorpe strikers again combining to allow for a tapped-in fifth goal. It was yet another example of Grimethorpe’s ruthlessness, and their 10 shots on target from 11 during the game demonstrated where their strengths lie.
Weekes nearly got a consolation for Wakefield in the 68th minute after more tireless running and smart play to intercept a headed back-pass. He nearly had the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs, but was denied as the home ‘keeper recovered to collect the ball. Turner made three changes in the 71st minute, one of whom was Lennard Okalo making his first appearance since September. He nearly had an excellent goal shortly after but his thunderous first-time shot from 30 yards went just wide of the post. Moments later Moore, joint top scorer for the club, also nearly had his own wonder goal. His ingenious first time, looping, volley from the edge of the box was just tipped over by the home goalkeeper.
The loss consigned Wakefield to their sixth game without a goal and drops them to eighth in the table, overtaken by Grimethorpe who move up to fifth. During Wakefield’s goalless nine hours of football, they have now conceded 13 goals, which is worryingly more than two per game. To put their recent form in to perspective, Wakefield had averaged nearly three goals scored per game during an excellent start to the season that saw them hit 38 in all competitions.
Without dwelling on the past, the club should use that as proof that the talent and skill is there and give itself hope that a turnaround will come. The next opportunity to do so comes on Saturday 25th January 2019 at 14:00, when Wakefield welcome Houghton Main to The Dorothy Hyman Stadium. In more positive news for Wakefield, this previous week also saw the birth of their new academy structure for boys and girls. Events are being held for all ages on weeknights at Wakefield Football Centre in partnership with KIxx, with information available on Facebook, Twitter and the club website.
Half Time: 3-0
Full Time: 5-0
Starting XI:
Quinaceo Hunt, Monaye Mitchell, Yemi Ayodele, Cedric Kouakou, Sobomate Harry, Seyavoush Esmaeily, Mustapha Coker, Kyron Richards, Manny Katundu (C), Nathan Weekes, Noah Hamelberg
Goals:
10m, Grimethorpe
28m, Grimethorpe
43m, Grimethorpe
47m, Grimethorpe
62m, Grimethorpe
Subs Used:
71m, Amos Kabaya for Noah Hamelberg
71m, Rayjon Moore for Nathan Weekes
71m, Lennard Okalo for Monaye Mitchell
Cards:
Sobomate Harry (Red)
Kyron Richards (Yellow)
Stats:
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 3
Second Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 2
Grimethorpe LLUK FC
First Half
Shots on Target: 6
Shots off Target: 0
Second Half
Shots on Target: 4
Shots off Target: 1