Saturday 8th February 2020 | Austin Ainsworth
Wakefield had their shot at a re-match in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League when they travelled to face Houghton Main at the M-Tec Stadium, only two weeks after the two sides’ last meeting. That previous game was a disappointing day for Wakefield, who let a 3-0 half time lead slip to lose the game 4-3.
Both teams were in similar form prior to kick-off, with that last game 12th placed Houghton Main’s only win in their last five and Wakefield – winless in eight – on a run of four straight losses. Wakefield started the game in 10th, knowing that they would finish it in 10th no matter the result, so mainly had pride to play for. And play with pride they did, as goals from Noah Hamelberg and Arnie Grayson helped them to a dogged and determined 2-1 win.
Manager Chris Turner again opted for the 4-4-2 formation seen in the last two matches, with Quinaceo Hunt starting in goal. There was a new look back four, with last week’s debutant Ify Ofoegbu moving to right-back alongside Ikechukwu Molokwu for his own debut at centre-back. Yemi Ayodele partnered him, with Seyavoush Esmaeily returning to make his second appearance for the club at left-back. Nathan Weekes lined up on the right wing, with last week’s central midfield of Noah Hamelberg and captain Kyron Richards again partnering each other. That meant Deji Alabi continued on the left wing, with Arnie Grayson and Thomas Eclapier completing the line-up as the two strikers.
The setting was the most eye-catching thing as the two sides kicked-off, with Houghton Main’s first-class setup offering the teams the chance to play on a top-quality grass surface and the spectators the chance to take their seats in a fantastic little stand. It wasn’t long before something else caught the eye though, as it was instantly apparent that Wakefield were again intent on making a quick start as they had done in the last game.
Interestingly, as in the last game, it was again the 12th minute when Wakefield took the lead following a period of early dominance. It hadn’t all been plain sailing however, as minutes earlier Houghton Main were denied an early lead by Ofoegbu, whose last-ditch lunge blocked a goal bound shot after a Houghton Main player had rounded goalkeeper Hunt. They overcome that early wobble in style when the excellent Hamelberg left his mark on the game, beating a player in midfield and thundering an outrageous shot from all of 35 yards in to the ‘postage stamp’, leaving the home goalkeeper with no chance.
Wakefield didn’t look back, with man-of-the-match Richards dominating the midfield with a mixture of physicality, composure and skill. He initiated multiple attacks in the ensuing minutes, on one occasion spraying the ball out to Ofoegbu, who cut the ball back to Alabi, only for his shot to be blocked. It was Alabi’s second opportunity to bag his first goal since September, as moments earlier he tried an audacious volley that went narrowly wide.
The only blight in a relentless first half-hour had been an injury to Weekes in the 15th minute. Danny Kabeya replaced him, playing at right-back as Ofoegbu moved up to right-midfield. It was then Kabeya who almost set up Wakefield’s second goal in the 24th minute after a lung-busting run up the wing. He expertly delivered a cross to the back post but Eclapier could only shoot wide. Eclapier got a second opportunity for his fifth goal of the season in the 31st minute however, with the award of a penalty for a foul on Alabi in the box. Eclapier appeared to strike it well, but the Houghton Main goalkeeper dived to his right to push the ball wide.
Perhaps buoyed by the save, Houghton Main had a rare attack in the 36th minute that culminated in the award of their own penalty, after Wakefield failed to clear and Molokwu felled a Houghton attacker. Hunt, never one to be overshadowed, rescued the visitors when he saved to his right even more expertly than the Houghton Main goalkeeper moments earlier. Wakefield then compounded the host’s misery when they went up the other end to make it 2-0. The excellent Ofoegbu received the ball on the right wing after some mesmerising footwork from Hamelberg to maintain possession. Ofoegbu delivered a tempting cross and Grayson rose bravely to beat the goalkeeper and head home for his first goal for the first team.
Shortly before half time, Houghton Main were gifted a route back in to the game by the referee who blew for yet another penalty for an apparent foul from Esmaily, who appeared to have won the ball. Miraculously, it was yet another miss as the Houghton Main player hit his shot well over the bar.
A 2-0 half time lead would usually feel secure, but nerves were in the air with the last game fresh in the minds of the travelling fans. This was a similar affair, as Houghton Main were the largely dominant side in a second half of few chances. Wakefield, penned in by the wind more than anything, dug deep and were resolute in defence. It was only with the award of Houghton Main’s third penalty kick in the 61st minute that the home side were able to have a shot on goal. This time around the penalty was well taken to make the score 2-1, as Hunt dove the wrong way. It was a setback, particularly as it again seemed to be a questionable decision from the referee with Esmaily again the unfortunate defender in question.
To Wakefield’s credit, they demonstrated new levels of maturity and concentration to defend the 18 yard box with vigour during a testing final 30 minutes. Redon Gashi replaced Eclapier as Turner appeared to tweak the formation to more closely resemble a 4-3-3; and Wakefield also overcame the loss of Hunt through injury in the closing stages, with Ryan Eades coming on in between the sticks. His role was largely limited to marshalling the defence and taking goal-kicks, as Wakefield again restricted any goalscoring opportunities for the frustrated home side. It wasn’t until the end of an agonising five minutes of injury time that Wakefield countered to finally work the goalkeeper themselves, with a shot from Ofoegbu. They also had another opportunity to kill the tie when Grayson broke through and pulled the ball back for Gashi, who couldn’t quite reach it at the back post.
None of that mattered though, as Wakefield’s efforts were enough to deservedly clinch the three points with their first win in two months and eight games of football. They remain 10th in the league but are now back on form and back within three points of the top four. Manager Chris Turner was rightly pleased with the outcome and stated: “It’s great to get back to winning ways. The game itself was bizarre – four penalties and three of them missed! We withheld a lot of pressure, only succumbing to Houghton’s [third] penalty. One of the most pleasing things of the day was the playing surface; it was superb, the best in the league. The players need to build on this result now and go on a good run of results.”
As Turner stated, the hope is that the green shoots of recovery seen here and in parts of the last two games will lead to a good run of results. This was closer than the jubilant Wakefield fans would have liked at times, with many likely leaving the ground slightly worse off in both the nails and blood pressure department. The stress is often worth it though to see this developing team of exciting young Wakefield players during their maiden season. The next opportunity to do so comes away to Burngreave F.C. on Saturday 15th February 2020, kick-off 14:00PM.
Half Time: 0-2
Full Time: 1-2
Starting XI:
Quinaceo Hunt, Ify Ofoegbu, Ikechukwu Molokwu, Yemi Ayodele, Seyavoush Esmaily, Nathan Weekes, Noah Hamelberg, Kyron Richards (C), Deji Alabi, Arnie Grayson, Thomas Eclapier
Goals:
12m, Noah Hamelberg
37m, Arnie Grayson
61m, Houghton Main
Subs Used:
15m, Danny Kabeya for Nathan Weekes
61m, Redon Gashi for Thomas Eclapier
76m, Ryan Eades for Quinaceo Hunt
Cards:
Seyavoush Esmaily (Yellow)
Stats:
Wakefield AFC
First Half
Shots on Target: 3
Shots off Target: 4
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 0
Houghton Main
First Half
Shots on Target: 2
Shots off Target: 2
Second Half
Shots on Target: 1
Shots off Target: 2