Wednesday 2nd March 2022 | Austin Ainsworth
Wakefield AFC returned to action under the floodlights at The Millennium Stadium, as they welcomed Hepworth United for an evening kick-off in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League.
10th placed Hepworth, under new management since Wakefield were victorious in the reverse fixture at the end of January, visited following their first league win in seven games – a 1-0 victory over basement side High Green Villa three weeks previously.
Wakefield – unbeaten in seven league games – were looking to get back amongst the goals after a disappointing 0-0 draw away to Houghton Main in their last match. That result was only the second time all season they had failed to score which meant that top-scorer Jake Morrison’s return to the starting line-up after injury was a timely boost. He spearheaded a strong side named by manager Gabriel Mozzini; with Billy Mole in a more familiar attacking-midfield position behind the aforementioned striker and Morgan Butcher returning to midfield alongside Daniel Youel. Mason Rubie made his first start in eight games on the left-wing.
It was Rubie who nearly gave the hosts a dream start in the fourth minute when he ran in on goal, seeing his shot well saved by the Hepworth goalkeeper at the near post. Wakefield, dominant throughout, continued to prod and probe, peppering the away goal with shots from all angles but came closest in the 40th minute when the returning Morrison somehow saw two quick-fire shots on the line stopped; first when the keeper parried at point-black range and then when his rebound trickled agonisingly close to the far post only for the scrambling defender to clear.
The miss mattered not, as Wakefield went on to take a deserved lead seconds later. The goal started right from the Wakefield goalkeeper Henry Kendrick, who impressively controlled a looping back-pass with his knee before volleying back out towards the Wakefield wing. Soon after Mole showed the other side of his game as he bravely barrelled in to a 50-50 contest, winning the ball robustly, but fairly. That allowed Rubie to run in down the left, who played a perfect cross to the back post for his opposite winger Red Bates to strike the ball home for his 11th goal of the season.
Wakefield, a much more patient and possession focussed side since the arrival of Mozzini as manager, continued to defy the boggy conditions as they fizzed the ball about the park with pace and control; Hepworth having even less of the game in the second half than they did in the first. The welcome difference throughout this encounter was how regularly Wakefield played the ball forward and the resultant myriad chances that they created. A further two goals in the second half to complete a convincing 3-0 win was no more than the home side deserved.
The first of those further two goals came from Morrison on his return, as he scored what was probably the most straightforward of his 18 goals for the season. The Hepworth ‘keeper had been sold short with an unwanted back-pass, which allowed Bates to pressure. He tackled and the ball bounced over to Morrison who was deemed just onside by the linesman. All that was left to do was for Morrison to walk the ball in to the open net. Although comical, the goal was Morrison’s 12th league goal in just eight starts and 10 league games overall – a record not to be laughed at.
Morrison could have had at least a hat-trick, and Wakefield a hatful as the opportunities kept on arriving for the slick home side, orchestrated by the skill, guile and vision of Butcher and Youel in midfield. A number of Wakefield players missed several gilt-edged chances when in on goal, before Morrison was denied the opportunity of an outrageous second goal when he was stopped by a last-ditch tackle in the area having ran the full length of the pitch with the ball at his feet.
The third did come in the 87th minute from the ever-impressive Youel though. He was able to latch on to a defence splitting through-ball from substitute Owen Kirman, who himself had just completed one of his signature, mazy runs infield to grab his fourth assist of the season. The finish matched the quality of the build-up, as Youel took a neat touch before slotting the ball past the goalkeeper in to the far post.
Wakefield could have had two more in injury time, as goal-line clearances were made against both Morrison and Kirman in the dying embers of the match. It didn’t take the gloss off a dominant, controlled and skilful display from Wakefield, who remained fifth in the league at the close of play but moved to within a point of Ecclesfield above them with three games in hand to boot.
With a chance to add another three points to the week’s tally on Saturday away to North Gawber prevented by a waterlogged pitch, Wakefield will now wait until the visit of Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves to The Millennium Stadium on Saturday 12th March 2022: kick-off 15:00PM.
Stats
Half Time: 1-0
Full Time: 3-0
Attendance: 124
MOTM: Morgan Butcher
Starting XI:
Henry Kendrick – Bradley Swain, James Morris (C), Cory Woodward, Josh Craig – Red Bates, Morgan Butcher, Daniel Youel, Mason Rubie – Billy Mole, Jake Morrison
Subs Used:
61m, Owen Kirman for Red Bates
61m, Harley Blankley for Billy Mole
69m, Josh Lockwood for Josh Craig
Goals:
40m, Red Bates
52m, Jake Morrison
87m, Daniel Youel
Assists:
40m, Mason Rubie
52m, Red Bates
87m, Owen Kirman
Cards:
Morgan Butcher – Yellow
Attempts:
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 7
Shots off Target: 4
Second Half
Shots on Target: 7
Shot off Target: 6
Hepworth United
First Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 3
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 1