Wakefield AFC stretch unbeaten run to 16 with four star showing in tricky test at Thorne

The Falcons, winners of their previous seven games and unbeaten in 15, had just themselves to focus on at Thorne, though, and knew only another win would do given the gap to Dearne at the top and the games in hand both Worsbrough Bridge and Harrogate Railway have below them, writes Austin Ainsworth.

And although a win was not expected to be an easy feat it was achieved impressively by a 4-0 margin, with three of the goals coming in the first half.

Thorne came into the game having won four of their last five games and, with a weather-worn pitch that has seen hardly any football this year, the conditions – poles apart from the pristine, artificial pitch Wakefield have grown used to at home – would also pose the Falcons a significant challenge.

With Billy Mole suspended, Bolton Makwedza and Callum Nicell absent, and club captain Chris Salt itching to make his first start since his return from injury, Wakefield manager Jason Blunt made two changes to the side that overcame Selby Town in the previous game. Salt resumed his place at centre-back, meaning Matthew Swift moved over to right-back, while Jay Davies made his first start for the club in place of Nicell in midfield.

Top scorer Tom Hinton also continued in a deeper position alongside Davies, with Akeel Francis again also moving one position back to attacking-midfield in what was the now customary 4-2-3-1 formation.

Those two combined after just four minutes to give Wakefield a dream start, with Salt also making an impression on his return with an impeccable cross-field pass from deep to pick out the run of Francis off the left. Francis beat the offside line and rounded the keeper, but in doing so slightly overrun the ball, which allowed Hinton to pounce from deep and finish the job with a poacher’s goal.

Taking nothing away from another crucial contribution from Hinton – the goal moving him to an incredible 38 goal contributions in 34 games this season – it was almost a shame that Salt would not be rewarded with his own assist for the pass, or that Francis did not get the goal after a fine run and great skill to burst in on goal.

Hinton soon paid Francis back just over five minutes later with the latest in a long line of pinpoint corner-kick deliveries. The ball curled inwards from the right towards Francis at the back post, who kept his eye on the ball and then impressively volleyed it downwards to arrow the ball through a forest of legs into the net for his 15th goal of the season.

That moment put Wakefield in the driving seat and removed much of the jeopardy that they faced against a physically competitive Thorne side on a heavy, bobbling pitch.

The pitch, just like any of Wakefield’s last 15 league opponents, could not suppress Wakefield’s skill, which showed itself brilliantly in the 26th minute. After a rare period in which Wakefield were pushed back into their own half, the ball broke free to Basile Zottos on the left. His quick feet left a Thorne player on the ground, at which point he spun inside and struck a raking pass over the backtracking defensive line towards the right wing.

Hinton raced through to meet the ball first, allowed it to bounce and – seeing the goalkeeper off his line – looped a half-volley from 30 yards into the back of the net. For any ordinary player, the goal would have been seen as a rare feat of brilliance worthy of prolonged and wild celebration, however for Hinton - now with at least five similar, if not better, goals among the 23 he has for the season – it was just another day at the office.

It was beginning to feel like just another day at the office for Wakefield too, who have made a healthy habit of late – no matter the opposition, no matter the circumstances or flow of the game – of taking a three-goal lead into half-time without seemingly breaking a sweat. And, aside from a brief period of dominance form Thorne just before the break, in which Drew Bremer made a good save in the Wakefield goal, Wakefield made it to the interval with that lead intact.

The away side maintained all of the discipline, desire and depth of performance that has led them on this runs of games; the second half going much the same way as the first if not just missing the clinical touch that saw Wakefield score with all of their shots on goal in the first half.

Hinton was again in the thick of it, first testing the keeper with a curling effort before then receiving the chance of bagging a hat-trick from the spot when substitute Eliel Anku had a header cleared off the line but was fouled in the process.

However, Hinton skied his effort over the bar and the score remained 3-0.

If anyone would grab a fourth, as the half wore on it seemed that Anku would be the most likely, with further good sights of goal following on from his part in winning the earlier penalty.

His moment eventually came in the 80th minute when Davies capped a solid performance in midfield with a “Hollywood” pass from deep that played Anku in on goal. The striker still had work to do, but calmly knocked the ball past the goalkeeper and then slid a shot towards goal from a tight angle, the ball going in off the post as the Thorne defence helplessly chased back to clear it.

Wakefield professionally saw out the remainder of the game to secure another three points to make it to eight wins in a row. Of those eight games, Wakefield have struck four goals on three occasions and three goals in four of the other games.

Wakefield will now hope another extended break – their next match coming at home to Doncaster City on Saturday – will not curb any of their momentum.