DEBUTANT ALVERTHORPE ATHLETIC LIFTED THE FIRST SILVERWARE OF THE WAKEFIELD & DISTRICT SUNDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE FOLLOWING THEIR 3--0 CHAMPIONSHIP TWO LEAGUE CUP WIN OVER WAKEFIELD ATHLETIC “B”.

Wakefield & District Sunday Football League - Sunday 26th March 2023

Alverthorrpe Athletic ....................................... 3
Wakefield Athletic "B" ...................................... 0

Alverthorpe Athletic lifted the first silverware of the Wakefield Sunday Football League in their debut season with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Wakefield Athletic FC ‘B’ in the final of the Championship Two League Cup hosted at Crofton Community Centre (Home of Nostell Miners Welfare).

Alverthorpe Athletic got the game underway with the kick-off and showed their intent early on with their attacking play style and registered the first effort on goal from midfielder Dane Tintor sailing just over the crossbar. Alverthorpe kept pilling on the pressure and saw a penalty claim on the 10th-minute mark with their top marksmen, Wasiu Adeniran colliding with Wakefield’s goalkeeper Ali Jamegay with referee waving play to continue.

Wakefield Athletic responded with firepower of their own as they won a free kick on the edge of the box through James Lewis and saw Aaron Dooley’s effort of the resulting free kick struck fiercely but unfortunately straight at keeper Jack Ellis who tipped it over the net. The resultant corner by Kieran Noon saw a flurry of chances for the Wakefield team with the spectators around the venue thought they were certain to see the first goal of the game as Andrew Jackson's thunderbolt effort cannoning off the crossbar with the goalkeeper well-beaten.

However, a she set-piece corner at the other end of the pitch proved to be a critical one as Alverthorpe drew first blood in the game with Andrew Shelton's right foot volley on the spin converted Thomas Calvert’s right-flank corner into the net to put his side one hand on the Championship Two League Cup with quarter of the game played, 1-0.

The backline of Wakefield were working overtime as captain Sean Hodson rallied his side through a series of winning challenges to search for an equaliser. The sparkling run of Mohamed Abou nearly provided what could have been the assist of the game as he skipped past two defenders’ only see his cross blocked with the awaiting Jacob Laskowski in the box. The following play saw the save of the game by Wakefield goalkeeper Ali Jamegay as forward Wasiu Adeniran saw his 1:1 attempt saved bravely..

The threat from Alverthorpe was always there as Wasiu Adeniran, their leading top goal scorer in the league with 28 goals this season saw his opportunity to get on the scoresheet with his side boasting momentum following the goal as he beat both defender and goalkeeper to the long ball by Rui Ferreira to slot home into the open net for dream two goal lead in the final on the half an hour mark to double his sides lead.

Unfortunately, the game saw Wakefield’s winger dismissed following a confusing alteration with an opposing player and the referee. The experience of Alverthorpe Athletic saw an opportunity to punish the deflated 10 men of Wakefield Athletic as they pushed forward. The tactic reaped rewards as we saw the goal of the game by winger Rui Ferreira who took his touch inside the defender to finesse his curling effort from the right-flank into the top corner at the far post for an outstanding 3-0 half-time lead.

Second half saw a heroic display from Wakefield Athletics' ten men in search for a breakthrough to start a comeback into the game with Alex Oldroyd and James Lewis combining only to see the latter’s header go wide. The robust Alverthorpe provided a composed backline and a noticeable strong centre display by Matthew Brown and centre back pairing Carlos Salter and Andrew Shelton limited the chances for Wakefield to test their goalkeeper, Jack Ellis.

The remainder of the game saw a couple of 1:1 chances for Wasiu Adeniran to add to his tally but was unable to cash in as he sent both efforts over the bar. The first half damage was enough for the top of the league Alverthorpe Athletic as they lift the Championship Two League Cup 2023.

The match balls were sponsored by Lightwaves Leisure & Community Centre (01924-360158).

The man of the match award sponsored by Pennines Trophies (Heckmondwike) went to Alverthorpe Athletics' striker Waisu Adeniran.