Report

WAKEFIELD EDGED OUT IN SEVEN GOAL THRILLER
21st Jan 09 - Newcastle Blue Star 4 vs 3 Wakefield FC
Report by Dan Brownhill

Wes Milnes and Jay Sobers were unavailable for the game and Matthew Sparkes had picked up a toe injury at Garforth Town so Ronnie Glavin was forced into several changes.

The Bears started with Woods in goal, a back four of Henson, Laight, Roberts and Morris, Shooter, Jones, Nicholson and Ferguson across midfield and regular pairing Howarth and Walshaw up front.

Wakefield stormed into a tenth minute lead when Delroy Ferguson's low cross found Adam Jones. Jones' shot was beaten away by Dan Lowson in the Blue Star goal, but the ball fell straight into the path of Chris Howarth who directed the ball into the net.

However, within two minutes Newcastle had both equalised and gone into the lead. Firstly, Andy Woods misjudged a Paul Grayson cross, the ball sailed over the Wakefield goalkeeper's head and landed on Craig Laight's but unfortunately bounced into the back of the Wakefield goal for an own goal.

Then Brayson was on hand to convert a low cross, despite the best efforts of Laight on the goalline, although the initial move from Blue Star appeared to be clearly offside.

James Walshaw then clipped the bar after getting on the end of a Howarth cross as Wakefield searched for an equaliser.

The first half ended with action at the other end, however. Woods denied Brayson with two good saves before Chris Emms slotted home Blue Star's third goal on the stroke of half time.

Early in the second half, James Dudgeon headed inches wide for the home side whilst Wakefield came close through Wayne Shooter who fired just over the bar after a jinking run.

Blue Star appeared to have put the game out of Wakefield's reach on 59 minutes when Brayson rounded Woods to score but Wakefield had other ideas.

Walshaw tapped in after substitute Matthew Wears' shot had been parried by Lowson and then Wears headed in himself after Walshaw's shot had rattled the underside of the cross bar and fallen to the young Wakefield forward.

Wakefield could not find an equaliser though and it is Newcastle who face Skelmersdale in the quarter finals on the 7th February.

Wakefield FC Man of the Match: Chris Howarth.

Attendance: 45.

Wakefield: Woods (c), Henson, Morris, Jones, Roberts, Laight, Nicholson, Shooter (Wears 69), Walshaw, Howarth, Ferguson (Rothera 79). Subs Not Used: South, Danville, Glavin.

Newcastle Blue Star: Lowson, Carr (c), Talbot, Tait, Snowdon (McClen 57), Dudgeon, McTiernan, Bowey, Brayson, Graydon (Stephenson 80), Emms. Subs Not Used: Preen, Gillies, Heinneger.

Attempts at Goal: Newcastle Blue Star 18 Wakefield 15

On Target: Newcastle Blue Star 10 Wakefield 5

Corners: Newcastle Blue Star 8 Wakefield 3

Offsides: Newcastle Blue Star 2 Wakefield 3

Fouls: Newcastle Blue Star 10 Wakefield 11

Yellow Cards: Newcastle Blue Star 0 Wakefield 1 (Shooter 30)

Red Cards: Newcastle Blue Star 0 Wakefield 0

WAKEFIELD FAIL TO BREAK DOWN GARFORTH
17th Jan 09 - Garforth Town 1 vs 0 Wakefield
Report by Dan Brownhill

Jonathon Hedge started in goal for Wakefield in place of the suspended Andy Woods. Hedge is Harrogate Town's reserve goalkeeper and had signed on as cover for Woods for this game.

Former Wakefield man Graham Marchant put Garforth in front on 16 minutes when he rounded Hedge before slotting the ball home from a tight angle, despite a desperate attempt at a goalline clearance from a Wakefield defender.

Garforth could have been two goals in front just before half time but Andrew Rowan's shot struck a post with Hedge beaten. Wakefield were limited to mainly half chances and long range efforts throughout the first half.

The Bears were forced into a half time change when Matthew Sparkes left the field with a toe injury and Aidan Morris came on to replace him, with Caldon Henson moving across the defence to cover at centre half.

Wakefield had their best spell just after half time. Chris Howarth screwed a shot wide under pressure on 50 minutes and a minute later Walshaw was denied by Luke Gibbons in a one on one situation. The ball rebounded back onto Walshaw's head but he placed the ball agonisingly wide of the post.

Garforth settled once more and denied Wakefield goalscoring chances with some solid defending during the remainder of the game. Garforth had chances to increase their lead but Hedge was on hand to tip Marchant's drive round the post and Rowan struck the upright for a second time with Hedge beaten.

Wakefield FC Man of the Match: Adam Jones

Wakefield: Hedge, Nicholson, Henson, Jones, Milnes (c), Sparkes (Morris 45), Roberts, Sobers, Walshaw, Howarth, Shooter (Ferguson 76). Subs Not Used: Wears, South, Mugadza.

Garforth Town: Gibbons, Piper, Fox, Connor (c), Kamara, Harratt, Blair, D Williams, Marchant (Hayward 90), Rowan (Tiani 84), St Juste (Kelly 67). Subs Not Used: Clark, G Williams.

Attempts at Goal: Garforth Town 8 Wakefield 10

On Target: Garforth Town 2 Wakefield 4

Corners: Garforth Town 3 Wakefield 6

Offsides: Garforth Town 4 Wakefield 1

Fouls: Garforth Town 16 Wakefield 15

Yellow Cards: Garforth Town 3 (Connor 46, D Williams 79, Rowan 80 Wakefield 2 (Walshaw 64, Howarth 71)

Red Cards: Garforth Town 0 Wakefield 0

Garforth won a poor game of football with a 1-0 win over Wakefield. It was a scrappy game with plenty of stoppages and very little fluency.

Former Wakefield striker Graham Marchant scored the only goal of the game after a quarter of an hour after rounding stand in keeper Jonathan Hedge with Andy Woods suspended and placing the ball into the net from a tight angle.

It should have been 2-0 just before half time but Wakefield were saved by the post.

The visitors improved dramatically in the first twenty minutes of the second half. Chris Howarth turned his defender but shot wide under pressure before James Walshaw was denied by the Garforth keeper.

Garforth also had chances in the second half. Hedge saved brilliantly from Marchant after Wakefield lost the ball in the middle of the park and then Garforth hit the post again after being put through one-on-one.

Garforth move above Wakefield and the Bears stay seven points off the play offs.

Team: Hedge, Nicholson, Henson, Jones, Milnes, Sparkes (Morris 45), Roberts, Sobers, Walshaw, Howarth, Shooter (Ferguson 76).
Subs not used: South, Wears and Mugadza.

Attendance: 208

MOM: Morris.

WAKEFIELD BEATEN BY FARSLEY
13th Jan 09 - Wakefield FC 0 vs 1 Farsley Celtic
Report by Dan Brownhill

The Bears were beaten by a Jake Speight strike early in the second half.

Wakefield gave a good account of themselves throughout the game and Farsley goalkeeper Ben Saynor made several smart stops to ensure his sides passage into the third round.

Wakefield FC Man of the Match: Marc Roberts.

Wakefield: Woods (c), Nicholson, Henson, Sparkes, Milnes, MacManus (Sobers 8), Roberts, Mugadza (Wears 67), Walshaw, Howarth, Shooter (South 80). Subs Not Used: Morris, Rothera.

Farsley Celtic: Saynor, Price, Serrant, Iqbal (c), Penford, Bentham, Downes, Kreif (Driscoll 69), Campbell, Speight (Broughton 76), Tuck. Subs Not Used: Jackson, Prendergast, Aspden.

 Phil Rann's Report

Wakefield bowed out of the West Riding Cup at the 2nd Round stage after a 1-0 defeat against Blue Square North side Farsley Celtic at College Grove.

Although Farsley enjoyed more of the possession in the early stages of the first half, the home side had the better of the chances. Firstly Matthew Sparkes forced a good save from Ben Saynor from a right wing corner, and then Wayne Shooter shot wide after good work from Chris Howarth and James Walshaw.

Farsley took the lead three minutes after half time through Jake Speight. A mix up between Wes Milnes and Caldon Henson set up the chance for Speight, and he bent the shot around Andy Woods in the Wakefield goal.

It should have been 2-0 soon after but Andy Campbell missed the chance after being put through one-on-one with Woods.

Wakefield had chances too in the second half. Walshaw shot well over before Marc Roberts forced a fine save from Saynor with a powerful effort from 35 yards. Milnes headed agonisingly over from a corner before Farsley were fortunate to not concede a penalty. Amjad Iqbal slipped and landed on the ball, bringing it back with his hands inside the penalty area. The referee somehow gave a free kick to Farsley and the visitors moved into the quarter finals where they will meet Silsden away.

Team: Woods, Nicholson, Henson, Sparkes, Henson, McManus (Sobers 5), Roberts, Mugadza (Wears 73), Walshaw, Howarth, Shooter (South 78).
Subs not used: Morris and Rothera.

Attendance: 108

MOM: Roberts.

WOODS OFF AS WAKEFIELD LOSE AT HALIFAX
3rd Jan 09 - FC Halifax Town 3 vs 2 Wakefield
Report by Dan Brownhill

Wakefield started with the same eleven that beat Garforth Town on Boxing Day and matched the league leaders through the early part of the game.

Halifax had a couple of noteable early chances with a Damien Allen angled shot curling inches wide and Junior Brown's 25 yard effort being tipped over by Woods. Woods was then shown a straight red card for handling outside of the penalty after coming racing out to charge down an attempted lob. James Walshaw took over the goalkeeper's jersey as Wakefield did not have a substitute goalkeeper on the bench.

The resulting free kick struck a post with Walshaw well beaten.

Wakefield had a glorious chance to score an opening goal on the stroke of half time when Chris Howarth raced clear, but his shot was placed the wrong side of the post.

Halifax inevitable scored two minutes into the second half when veteran striker Nigel Jemson slotted the ball home from close range. Tom Baker then thundered a shot past Walshaw from 30 yards to make it 2-0 before Chris Howarth pulled a goal back straight from the restart when he slotted the ball past Jon Kennedy via the inside of the post after a good run into the box.

Walshaw was then thrown back up front with Caldon Henson replacing him in the goal. The first thing Henson had to do however was pick the ball out of the net after Jemson nodded in a near post corner.

Wakefield rallied and tried in vain to get back into the match. A Walshaw free kick was tipped over by Kennedy before the Bears did pull a goal back four minutes from time. Centre back Wes Milnes tapped home on the goalline after Kennedy mis-judged a corner kick at his near post.Wakefield could not find a third goal though and went home defeated but by no means disgraced.

Wakefield: Woods (c), Nicholson, Henson, Jones, Milnes, Sparkes, Roberts, Sobers (Morris 66), Walshaw, Howarth, Shooter (Ferguson 45). Subs Not Used: MacManus, Mugadza.

Halifax Town: Kennedy, Adams, Collins, Meadowcroft (c), Sutton, Allen, Brown, Baker, Leitch-Smith (Stott 62), Jemson (Gedman 75), Coo. Subs Not Used: Smith, Hinsley, Ross.

Attempts on goal: Halifax Town 15 Wakefield 6

On Target: Halifax Town 11 Wakefield 4

Corners: Halifax Town 8 Wakefield 3

Offsides: Halifax Town 6 Wakefield 2

Fouls: Halifax Town 13 Wakefield 11

Yellow Cards: Halifax Town 0 Wakefield 3 (Sobers 12, Ferguson 71, Milnes 72)

Red Cards: Halifax Town 0 Wakefield 1 (Woods 29)

Phil Rann's Report

Wakefield went down 3-2 against the league leaders at The Shay but still put in a spirited performance.

It was always going to be very difficult to get something when Wakefield goalkeeper Andy Woods was sent off after only 25 minutes for a handball outside the area, and with no reserve keeper on the bench, James Walshaw volunteered himself, and Halifax almost went ahead from the resulting free kick but the ball cannonned off the post with Walshaw beaten.

However, the best chance of the first half fell to the visitors. Chris Howarth was left one-on-one with Jon Kennedy when two Halifax defenders ran into each other but his shot was just wide of the far post in stoppage time.

Halifax looked to have wrapped the game up inside the first ten minutes of the second half, when firstly Nigel Jemson netted and then Tom Baker scored with a long range effort, but Wakefield hauled themselves back into it when Howarth scored with an excellent strike from twenty five yards after beating two defenders.

Although the home side with their 'league leaders' status were far from impressive, they scored a third on 75 minutes from a corner when Caldon Henson, who had replaced Walshaw between the sticks moments before, couldn't keep out the header.

Wes Milnes gave Wakefield hope again with five minutes left when he bundled home a corner, before Henson saved well from Ashley Stott to keep the score at 3-2 and in stoppage time Wakefield had a half-hearted penalty shout turned down when Howarth was felled in the area with the referee adjudging that the defender had got a touch on the ball.

Team: Woods, Nicholson, Henson, Jones, Milnes, Sparkes, Roberts, Sobers (Morris 67), Walshaw, Howarth, Shooter (Ferguson 45).
Subs not used: McManus and Mugadza.

Attendance: 1,150.

MOM: Jones