Saturday 19th March 2022 | Austin Ainsworth
Wakefield AFC were seeking a return to winning form, after a frustrating draw last time out – their second in the last three games. Ironically, Sheffield Town F.C. were the visitors to the Millennium Stadium in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League, who are the only other side to prevent Wakefield winning in their unbeaten run of nine league games; that match was a 1-1 draw back in December.
Manager Gabe Mozzini was forced in to a couple of changes as Luke Blackburn came in to defence, and took the captains armband, in place of the suspended James Morris. Jock Curran also started in midfield, after an impressive substitute appearance last week. Max Child made only his second start of the season in goal – his first in the league – and was looking to become the fifth different goalkeeper to keep a clean-sheet this season for Wakefield.
The home side made a fast start and were aggressive from the off, pressing noticeably high up the pitch on the rare occasions they didn’t have possession of the ball. They were made to wait for any real attempt on goal though, until Billy Mole grabbed the lead in the 22nd minute with his first goal in five games.
Owen Kirman started it with a strong run down the right, before feeding the ball through to striker Jake Morrison. He unselfishly squared the ball to Mole just as the Town goalkeeper had committed himself off his line. It left a nearly open net for Mole to fire in to, although he was denied by a goal-line clearance with his first stab at it. The ball fortunately bounced back out to him and he was never going to miss twice; his side-footed finish prompting celebration from the home side and fans alike.
Sheffield had actually had a couple of early chances themselves, before a gilt-edged opportunity came in the 28th minute to level the scores. A free-kick was delivered in from the left towards the back post; their unmarked player somehow completely missing the target much to the relief of the partisan 171 strong crowd.
Having played an influential role in the first goal, Kirman had two good chances to score himself in the minutes before half-time. The first came after another blistering run down the right where he was just unable to provide the finish; and the second was an even better chance provided on a silver platter by one of many incisive passes from midfielder Daniel Youel. Kirman was again just unable to finish with any real conviction as he stretched to get his shot away.
Wakefield may have been slightly disappointed to only take a one goal lead in at half-time and responded with a ferocious second half performance to blow the visitors away; with Mole getting his second – and the pick of the day’s goals – in the 50th minute with a fine effort. Curran had showed strength to win the ball high up the field, before Youel clipped another pass between the lines. It was half cleared out to Josh Craig who slipped the ball in for Mole on the left edge of the penalty area, who just allowed the ball to run past as he opened up his body before firing a wicked left-footed shot that rose high in to the top left corner of the net.
Morrison was nearly in on the action straight from the re-start, as Mason Rubie played him in down the right. After a strong run inside, the Sheffield ‘keeper made one of many fine saves to deny the striker his 19th goal of the season, tipping the ball over the bar from point-blank range.
A familiar face returned from a brief stint away from the club midway through the half, as Bartlomiej Chrobak made his first appearance in a competitive fixture for Wakefield’s first team from the bench. The young prospect almost made an instant impact with an eye-catching run, twisting in and out of several Sheffield defenders, but his shot from inside the box went straight at the goalkeeper.
The third goal did come shortly after, and it was Kirman whose fine performance was capped off with his second goal in two games. The ever-impressive Youel was the provider as he threaded the ball through the eye of the needle, Kirman doing the rest down the right as he ran past two backtracking defenders. He then showed composure to cut inside and finish low to the goalkeeper’s left for his 10th goal of the season.
After a fine team performance, during which Wakefield seemed only to lend the ball to Sheffield for fleeting moments at a time, all that was left was for Mole to put the icing on the cake of his own impressive individual performance by bagging a hat-trick. He didn’t disappoint as only two minutes after Wakefield’s third, he got his third of the match and 16th overall this season.
Craig was his provider again, in a near carbon copy of the second goal earlier in the half. From almost an identical position as that second goal, Craig drove a pass through the Sheffield defence for Mole to run in on the left edge of the box. He left the ‘keeper no chance as his powerful side-footed shot flew in to the roof of the net to make it 4-0.
Wakefield’s weekend could have hardly gone any better as, alongside another accomplished display that was this time rewarded with goals and the three points, other results meant that Wakefield finally moved in to fourth place in the league above Ecclesfield Red Rose. Even more tantalisingly the teams in front, Penistone and Dodworth, are within one and three points respectfully; with Wakefield’s next two games away and then home to Dodworth meaning their destiny is in their own hands. That next game is a 14:00 kick-off, on Saturday 26th March 2022 at Dodworth Miner’s Welfare Sports and Social Club.
Stats
Half Time: 1-0
Full Time: 4-0
Attendance: 171
MOTM: Billy Mole
Starting XI:
Max Child – Luke Blackburn (C), Bradley Swain, Cory Woodward, Josh Craig – Mason Rubie, Daniel Youel, Jock Curran, Owen Kirman – Billy Mole, Jake Morrison
Subs Used:
45m, Josh Lockwood for Luke Blackburn
56m, Bartek Chrobak for Mason Rubie
70m, Harley Blankley for Jake Morrison
75m, Tommy Pallet for Jock Curran
Goals:
22m, Billy Mole
50m, Billy Mole
67, Owen Kirman
69m, Billy Mole
Assists:
22m, Jake Morrison
50m, Josh Craig
67m, Daniel Youel
69m, Josh Craig
Cards:
Billy Mole – Yellow
Attempts:
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 2
Second Half
Shots on Target: 9
Shot off Target: 5
Sheffield Town F.C.
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 2
Second Half
Shots on Target:
Shots off Target: 2