Wombwell Town 2-3 Wakefield

Wombwell Town 2-3 Wakefield

Northern Counties East League (Division One)

Saturday 30th March 2024

Despite the fact it’s almost April and I’ve seen well over 100 games already this season, somehow, I’ve not actually seen a NCEL for about a year!

With that in mind - plus the fact I didn’t wanted to travel very far but still wanted to tick off a new ground and catch up with some familiar faces (laziness getting the better of me), it was enough to tempt me along to the Recreation Ground and this game had a dramatic finish as Wakefield scored deep, deep into injury-time to win 3-2 and get three points which was barely deserved based on their second half performance.

In both teams there were players I respect massively; Jordan Helliwell at Wakefield being one who was at Barnsley last season and an absolute pleasure to watch there - his ‘comeback from injury’ game and goal against Wigan Athletic in the U21s just 14 months ago being something I’ll always remember fondly. Plus Josh Lindley in Wombwell’s team who has just signed for them (ironically from Wakefield) and is getting decent experience under his belt in men’s football, having been at Doncaster Rovers at U18s level last season, followed by more clubs than Tiger Woods over the past eight months!

If I’d left a visit to Wombwell for another few weeks, I’d have also been able to watch Morgan James who has signed for the rest of the season from Frickley Athletic, and is another good lad who was once in the academy ranks at DRFC. His debut against Sunderland in the Papa John’s Trophy in October 2017 feels a long time ago now, albeit I’ve still got the ticket stub from that night somewhere in my collection.

This game promised to be a decent one considering that both Wombwell and Wakey have been up at the top end of the NCEL Division One table all season long and in the first half, it was Wakefield who looked miles the better team and far too strong for their opponents.

Looking slick and smart in their navy blue away strip, they came flying out the traps. Oli Green was the best player on the pitch and although he only lasted a short time before being forced off through injury (a big shame because he looked like he’s got bags of talent), he got Wakey’s opener when he was put through on goal and produced a lovely and composed dinked finish over the oncoming ‘keeper.

Ben Gelder also looked decent; good with his hold up play and putting in a proper shift by chasing things down constantly and just working hard - exactly the qualities you want to see in a centre-forward, and having continued to dominate, Wakefield added a second goal through Slater Barker-Barnes only a few minutes before half-time. And at 2-0 and playing so well, I don’t think many people were expecting any sort of comeback.

Wombwell didn’t offer very much in the first half besides one chance just before the second goal went in when their striker rounded an oncoming ‘keeper who came out of his box and into no man’s land, but saw the eventual shot cleared off the line by a covering defender.

It was all a bit slow, sluggish and lacking from their perspective with Wakefield doing all the dictating, but after half-time, it was completely different as they got a grip on matters and looked up for it - quite possibly having been on the receiving end of a half-time b*llocking!

The next goal was always going to be huge and after nearly witnessing a collectors item moment of Josh Lindley scoring (it happens about three times per season) - sadly the ‘keeper denied him with a decent save in this instance, Rhys Plater did pull one back before Rikki Paylor powered a header home from a long-throw to haul Wombwell back level at 2-2 with about 15 minutes remaining!

Considering the game kicked off at 4.04pm, it came as a surprise that the referee added on so much injury-time. I don’t know where he got it all from (one of those where it seemed excessive despite a few stoppages here and there), but both teams went for it, it was end-to-end and open and highly entertaining. And then in the 97th minute came the drama as Slater Barker-Barnes fired home a winner to provoke wild celebrations amongst Wakefield’s 100-150 fans (good support) and send the points back to West Yorkshire!

If Wakey are to get promoted, they’ll probably have to do it through the Play-Offs as Shirebrook remain top and Beverley or Parkgate (probably both) looked poised to overtake them with the amount of games in hand they’ve got, but with their best players fit and available and with what they showed in the first half - especially the clinical composure of Oli Green, then Wakefield will give anyone a tough challenge if/when the Play-Offs come around.

For Wombwell, there’s still time for them to usurp one of the top five but they’ll know themselves that this defeat is a major blow to their Play-Off chance. In the first half, they were crap. In the second half, they were miles better and they could have even won it themselves in the end. They deserved something; it’s unfortunate they didn’t get anything, but as a club they ought to be massively proud of the debut season they’ve had in the NCEL and the little ground improvements taking place shows the ambition they’ve got in the long run and the fact they plan to stick around and compete at this level for a while to come.

Good on them - and good on them as well for only charging the cheapest possible admission price (£3) at this level which is an absolute bargain.

As things stand I’ve now got five grounds left to visit across the two NCEL divisions until I’ve done the lot. Barton Town (in the pipeline), Campion (might be Step 4 next year anyway) and Golcar United (feels like a trek) being three in the Premier Division. Followed by Louth Town (so a trip to the deepest, darkest depth of the Lincolnshire wilderness) and Clay Cross Town (wish me luck seeing a game on their pitch this season) in Division One.

Any lifts appreciated… and if anyone from the Doncaster area is ever going to any of those places, get in touch because I’ll be more than happy to tag along at some point.