NCEL- Game 34
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08/03/25 - Wakefield vs Wombwell Town
It was almost a must win game both sides with both vying for the league title with Horbury Town catchable at the top, and it could just a single goal to seal the points. The 90 minutes was a tense and nervy affair with both defences denying the other from too many clear cut chances. Wakefield definitely had more opportunities, but in the first half there as really just one big save by Wellers keeper Charlie Dando who denied Kelan Swales on 23 minutes after the keeper broke through the back line. Frustratingly, there was another straight red shown for the Wellers just before the quarter hour mark as Josh Nodder was repeatedly fouled to the point where he was pulled to the ground and appeared to make contact with a Wakefield player while trying to keep retention of the ball. Despite winning the free kick it was Nodder who was bizarrely shown the red. Another red card on 21 minutes reduced both teams to ten men as Ollie Fearon tried to race clear and last man Scott Smith, forgetting he was playing football in the rugby ground, tackled Fearon as though he was carrying an egg shaped ball. The Wellers best chance of the half came on 24 minutes as good build up play saw Owen Fieldsend set up Sam Finlaw who struck towards goal low from 30 yards, only to see his effort hit the right hand post and skew across the line and out for a goal kick at the left hand post. Half Time: 0-0 Shortly after the restart, as someone predicted "first goal wins this", a free kick on the right wing provided that goal. The delivery was flown towards the far post and the biggest player on the pitch, Chris Salt, used all his knowhow and strength to beat Jack Dando at the right hand post to give Wakefield the lead. Wakefield should have doubled the lead on 54 minutes as miscommunication between the Dando's saw Jack head back to the edge of the penalty to Charlie who kept the ball alive but he himself slid out of the area unable to collect the ball, but the shot towards the open net was blazed over the bar. A change in formation for the Wellers gave a hope of creating some chances with Ollie Fearon forcing Wakefield keeper Owen Evans to make his body big and block the shot for a corner. The keeper was strong in collecting crosses all afternoon and nullified the set piece threat that has given the Wellers so many goals this season. At full time, Wakefield who know their league title challenge is very much on, with the Wellers hoping they can cement 2nd or 3rd to give them home advantage in at least one play-off game - unless there will be yet another wicked twist to this season? Wakefield AFC 1 Chris Salt 48 Wombwell Town 0 Attendance: 437
Images from this season can be found on the Gallery page.
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