Oval ball takes spotlight but Wakefield AFC do their bit for football in the city

Those matches – at home to Hemsworth Miners Welfare in midweek and away to Immingham Town on Saturday – looked winnable, but nothing could be taken for granted after a tough run of form for the Falcons, writes Austin Ainsworth.

Adam Lockwood’s Wakefield had already been boosted by the return of fan favourite Jake Morrison and this week another star of the past returned to galvanise Wakefield. Callum Charlton came straight back into the side on Tuesday evening as left wing-back in Lockwood’s now favoured 3-4-1-2 formation.

That immediately provided more balance and width and allowed Harry Shepherd to move to one of the two striker positions; a more natural fit for him after deputising at wing-back against Armthorpe.

Those were the only changes to the side and they looked to have worked as Wakefield started brightly in a lively home game with Hemsworth. They were slick on the ball and had good periods of possession, while Hemsworth looked threatening on the counter, particularly down the wings as Wakefield pushed forward.

One such attack saw Mo Conteh clear a ball off the line after their player struck from a cut-back cross from the left, while Wakey goalkeeper Drew Bremer made a fine low, stretching save after a similar attack from the right hand side.

In between those chances Wakefield had good moments of their own, with Jay Davies dictating the game from midfield and also going close with a couple of long shots, and Dillon testing the goalkeeper from the edge of the box.

The breakthrough eventually came for the home side just before half-time through Wakefield’s most reliable and consistent source of goals – Jimmy Eyles.

Shepherd dropped into a pocket of space in front of the Hemsworth box and was given too much time to turn and pick his pass, which was inch-perfect for Eyles, who received the ball on the half-turn and struck his shot high into the net.

The goal came at an ideal time heading into the break, and it helped Wakefield take control in the second period. Aside from a dangerous cross from Hemsworth that saw their attacker hit the post with a headed effort, Wakefield always looked good value to extend their lead.

They did so in the 65th minute when substitute Callum Nicell played a good ball out from midfield for the run of Eyles. He delayed as Dillon made an overlapping run on the left and then released the midfielder at the perfect time. Dillon feinted to go on the outside before turning in and guiding a curling, low shot past the goalkeeper to the far post for his third goal of the season.

By now Wakefield were playing some sumptuous stuff up-front, benefitting from the impact Nicell had on the game from midfield, the continuing threat of Charlton and the introduction of Morrison in attack.

The third goal eventually came in the 79th minute when Nicell threaded a ball through for another smart run from Eyles to the right of the box. The narrow angle did not matter as Eyles clinically took the half-chance with a perfectly arrowed shot, low to the far corner.

The only stain on Wakefield’s performance was a failure to clinch a long sought-after clean-sheet, with Hemsworth bagging a consolation in injury time from a free-kick from distance.

Wakefield went into the weekend fixture away to Immingham with renewed confidence and unsurprisingly Lockwood named an unchanged side.

They were immediately on the attack and should have taken the lead when a good move through midfield saw Eyles play Dillon into the box, though he shot straight at the keeper.

Wakefield’s momentum was briefly halted, though, when Immingham exerted some brief pressure and won a corner kick. From that set-piece Conteh was penalised for an alleged handball in the box, but the resulting spot kick was well saved by Bremer.

The Falcons recovered well and from their own corner – swung in perfectly by Davies – Lockwood rose high to head home his first goal of the season.

They should have extended their lead in the ensuing minutes of the half, Eyles seeing two close-range shots saved in a rare game in which he did not score.

Immingham were somewhat reinvigorated in the second half and levelled proceedings almost immediately, when Wakefield failed to apply enough pressure on the edge of their own box and a subsequent long shot by Declan McLaughlin was curled brilliantly to the far post, leaving Bremer no chance.

Wakefield should have restored their lead when Davies thundered a free-kick from distance at goal which was saved well, before Dillon’s rebounded effort was cynically cleared off the line by the hand of Immingham’s Owen Davey, who was sent-off as a result.

That left Wakefield another chance to take the lead with a penalty kick, though their curse of this season from the spot continued when Eyles struck the post.

They pressured for a winner and substitute Morrison went close when he muscled in on goal from a long pass but shot at the goalkeeper from a narrowing angle. As the clock ticked down it looked as though Wakefield would have to settle for a point.

They had other ideas, however, and, created an overload on the right hand side. Wing-back Zak Cottle drove forward with the ball and created the space to release Dillon who then sent in a low cross which Sam Drake prodded home at the near post in the 89th minute.

Drake’s first of the season meant Wakefield won two games in a row for the first time this season in the league. And what a difference two wins can make, as Wakefield move up to eighth and suddenly see themselves level on points with Route One Rovers, who currently occupy the last play-off spot.

The wins may have taken a back foot in the city after Wakefield Trinity’s outstanding heroics in the Rugby League Grand Final, but aside from boosting the players own confidence and belief, and moving Wakefield up the league, they ensured a perfect sporting week for the city as fans of both sports have no reason for any upset.

Wakefield will now move on quickly to another week of two matches, the first coming at home in the West Riding County Cup at home to Selby Town tonight (Tuesday).