Match Report  |  Wakefield FC vs Gresley Rovers

A stiff breeze did not help in a poor first half from both sides with Rovers perhaps having the better of the few chances available.

One of those chances came on 15 minutes when Wakefield defender Chris Fawcus attempted to head back to his keeper but it fell short and was picked up by Liam Hebberd. Seeing Andy Woods off his line he attempted a lob that somehow fell to David Blenkinsopp. The striker hit a shot that was blocked.

Wakefield hit back and Brighton Mugadza was sent on his way down the flank by a good pass from Demi Kyriacou however, his attempted cross was well blocked by Colin Hoyle.

Minutes later Sam Litchfield played a superb ball to Carl Slater but unfortunately the final shot from distance was straight at Woods.

Perhaps Rovers' best chance came on 23 minutes. Chris Mawby picked out Sam Litchfield who then helped the ball on to Blenkinsopp who skewed his shot wide when well placed.

Rovers where awarded a free kick minutes later taken by Nicky Carter who found the head of Barry Woolley. The big defender nodded the ball on to Blenkinsopp who couldn't get enough power in his shot to trouble the home keeper.

On 36 minutes a corner from Paul Edwards was met by Woolley at the far post who's header was only half cleared from danger by the Wakefield defence. Blenkinsopp received the ball and sent over a cross to Edwards unmarked but he put his header over the bar.

A minute later Wakefield almost opened the scoring. Mugadza pushed the ball through to striker Neil Smith who fired a shot straight at Rovers' keeper David Clarke.

Slater and Hebberd combined well to create a chance just before the break but Hebberd's shot from just outside the box sailed over the bar.

The second half was a very poor affair from Rovers' perspective as Wakefield took hold of the game and never looked like letting it slip out of their grasp.

A warning sign came within ten minutes of the re-start. Mugadza's corner from the left was knocked into the goal by Kyriacou but the goal was disallowed due to a push on Clarke.

Almost on the hour the home side got the goal they were looking like and the lively Mugadza was involved again.

Rob McQuarrie picked out the striker who then cut inside and with the Rovers defence allowing him as much space as he needed he fired a low shot past Clarke and into the bottom corner.

Wakefield were completely in charge and could easily have added to their total.

Three minutes after taking the lead a quickly taken free kick caught Rovers flat and a cross from Mugadza found Neil Smith at the far post who lashed a shot across the goal and fractionally wide of the other post.

Mugadza was almost beating the Rovers defence at will and another cross found Kyriacou who perhaps should have had a shot himself but instead laid the ball back to Smith who fired over.

Kyriacou then provided Mugadza in acres of space with a chance that the striker fired narrowly wide of the mark.

Blenkinsopp had what was probably Rovers' only chance of the second half on 80 minutes when he headed Matt Millns' long throw just wide of the far post.

It would have been harsh on Wakefield if that chance had been converted because there had only been one side in it for most if not all of the second period.

Indeed, Wakefield could have added to Rovers' embarrassment on 82 minutes when Ben Hardy, given the run of the field, picked out Andy Shields, who in turn found Kyriacou, who hit a stinging volley that Clarke did well to tip round his near post.

Mugadza should have doubled the Wakefield tally with only six minutes remaining. A long throw-in picked him out behind the Gresley defence but with only Clarke to beat, put his first-time shot wide of the far post.

Almost on the final whistle Wakefield had one more final fling when Shields found the time and space to shoot from long range but Clarke made an excellent save.