Wakefield AFC's 18-match unbeaten run is ended in disappointing week

A real pivotal moment came this past week with two away games, the first a trip in midweek to close rivals Harrogate Railway – one of two sides, considering games in hand, with a realistic prospect of leapfrogging Wakefield, writes Austin Ainsworth.

And after drawing this tough game 0-0 the Falcons failed to fire a few days later when they lost 1-0 at Leeds UFCA to see their long unbeaten run ended.

Wakey manager Jason Blunt named an unchanged line-up from the one that dispatched Doncaster City in their previous outing and they started confidently against Harrogate.

They could have been two up in the opening 15 minutes, with Bolton Makwedza almost scoring from a looping cross that took a wicked bounce and forced the keeper into a smart save and heading a chance over from a Tom Hinton free-kick.

A number of stoppages then disrupted the flow of the game, with Harrogate taking several opportunities to delay the game and, as a result, momentum shifted to make the match a more even affair. Wakefield were guilty of playing Harrogate’s game, instead of their own, and that saw the match descend into a frantic contest, marked by persistent fouls and turnovers in possession.

Neither side provided any real threat, though Harrogate did have a good chance shortly before the break in which Wakefield goalkeeper Drew Bremer made a fine, reaction save to keep the score level.

The second half had much the same feel to it. Blunt was forced into changes, but the game petered out as a contest solely battled in midfield.

Wakefield’s best chance of the half came when Harrogate’s keeper made an incredible save to claw out a curling Hinton free-kick.

Ultimately it was a good point for Wakefield, who maintained their nine-point cushion over Harrogate and remained second in the league.

An immediate opportunity to return to winning ways followed at the weekend with a trip to face Leeds UFCA, themselves on a good run of form that has seen them dreaming of clinching the last play-off spot.

Blunt made two changes, with Sam Pashley and Matthew Swift coming into the defence, as captain Chris Salt was rested and Mo Conteh started in midfield.

Again it meant that Hinton and Akeel Francis were both operating deeper than what had previously been their usual roles.

That tactic, somewhat enforced by the absences of Billy Mole and Callum Nicell in midfield, had previously worked against teams Wakefield were expected to beat, where Wakefield hogged the ball and seemed to play for fun; but, against Harrogate Wakefield were at times overrun and for the first time in a long time the balance did not feel right. That again proved the case here.

It would be harsh to say Wakefield were anywhere near close to being overrun against Leeds UFCA, when in reality the match was an even contest. Although the pitch was difficult, the visitors still looked to move the ball quickly and both Hinton and Francis were at the heart of that, as was Conteh.

However, the real problem that became evident with having Hinton in a midfield pivot and Francis in a free, midfield role, was that they were both too far away from the Leeds goal, in positions where they could not hurt the home side – with Wakey subsequently lacking any real goal threat.

And, for a Wakefield side that had seen their first goalless match in 13 against Harrogate, it was unthinkable that they would go two games without scoring, but that is indeed what happened in a match of few chances.

Wakefield, aside from a couple of half chances for striker Eliel Anku, never tested Leeds’ goalkeeper, with Bremer just as much of a spectator in his own goal.

As if another goalless draw would not have been disappointing enough, Wakefield’s week got worse when a 52nd minute goal for Leeds proved to be the only one of the game.

There was no question as to Wakefield’s effort or application, and that had previously seen them defend the home side’s balls into the box astutely. However, on this occasion a ball was delivered from the right and went bouncing all the way across the six-yard line, where Harry Brown bundled the ball home at the back post under a scrambling Bremer.

That goal, which Wakefield never came close to responding to, meant that another record fell for the Falcons, with the end of their unbeaten run coming so soon after the end of their winning streak at Harrogate.

The defeat is Wakefield’s first in 18, a run that means – even after a bad week like this – they are still in a good position in the league as they retain their spot in second. It also means defeat should be put into context, without over-reaction or panic. However, there is little more room for error, with Harrogate six points behind with two games in hand and Worsbrough eight points behind with four games in hand.

Wakefield will argue points on the board is better than games in hand but, with second spot so crucial in securing home fixtures in the play-offs, they will be determined to get back to winning ways.

They will certainly need to bounce back immediately, with two games next week seeing them welcome Appleby Frodingham to the Hunters Stadium on Saturday before what now feels like a must-win home tie against Worsbrough Bridge next Tuesday.