Storms and weather warnings were not enough to curtail NCE Division One action over the weekend as a full round of fixtures played out in conditions more suited to sailing rather than football.

Sixth-placed Wakefield AFC made the trip over to Hull to face 11th-placed LIV with both sides looking for a win after losses last time out, writes Austin Ainsworth.

For Wakefield, their 1-0 defeat at Club Thorne Colliery saw an end to an excellent run of form, while the loss for LIV was their third in succession amidst a winless run of five games in all competitions.

It was to be the hosts who would be celebrating at the end as they recorded a 4-1 success.

Kenzie Dillon scored his fifth goal of the season when he was on target for Wakefield AFC against LIV. Picture: Steve Biltcliffe

placeholder image — Kenzie Dillon scored his fifth goal of the season when he was on target for Wakefield AFC against LIV. Picture: Steve Biltcliffe

Wakefield manager Adam Lockwood made two changes to the 3-4-2-1 formation seen frequently of late; new signing George Birley starting up front in place of Symeon Corion, while Sam Drake came back into the midfield to replace the suspended Jay Davies.

Despite the horrific conditions, exacerbated by a rain-trodden, grass pitch, the Falcons edged a tight first half with some slick, attacking football. Now at home in a back three, the away side looked comfortable and compact off the ball and had a number of good attacks when in possession, making use of their overlapping wing-backs who often found joy on the wings.

Kenzie Dillon – Wakefield’s most frequent goal threat in the absence of injured top scorer James Eyles – was again at the heart of the action, first testing the home goalkeeper with quick feet on the edge of the box to get off a low shot.

If that was a half-chance, his next effort would have been considered a certain goal when a good attack culminated in a perfect cross from the right from Zak Cottle. Dillon drifted unmarked onto the six-yard line but somehow sent his header wide.

In between those two chances, LIV tested Drew Bremer with a skimming low shot that the keeper impressively saved.

Captain Owen Thomas then had a great chance only to send his header wide, before Dillon eventually gave his side a deserved lead in the 43rd minute.

Thomas was involved in that too when he stepped out of defence to intercept a long ball, drove forward and drilled a shot towards goal from distance. The keeper spilled and Dillon was fastest to react to finish from close range for his fifth goal of the season.

That should have been that for a professional first half from Wakefield, but they gifted LIV a route back into the game just before the interval when Bremer came rushing out to the right of his area in an effort to keep a wayward back pass in play. In doing so he slid and flicked the ball back to Ryan Whincup who turned and curled a shot from a difficult angle straight into the open goal to send the sides in level at the break.

The pitch grew heavier in the sodden conditions in the second half and Wakefield struggled. They were the masters of their own demise when another goal was gifted to the home side as a long ball from the back was missed by the defence and bounced through for James Nichols to finish past Bremer.

LIV added another goal when a free-kick was half cleared out to Nichols, who bagged his second with a low shot that left Bremer no chance.

The Falcons never really threatened to find a way back into the game and conceded again with Henry Barker scoring with a fine free-kick from 25 yards out.

Wakefield will now be hoping home comforts can help them regain their form as their next five fixtures are all at the Hunters Stadium, beginning with the visit of South Leeds on Friday night.