Northfield Town V Wake Green Amateurs (Division Two)

​Northfield were looking to keep their momentum going against newly promoted Wake Green Amateurs at Shenley Lane. The Town were coming off three straight wins to start their season in division two and were top of the table going into yesterday’s match. They were looking to continue their impressive home form which included a fifteen-match unbeaten run since being promoted to division two.   

A lot of last season’s title winning squad have stayed on for the new season and there’s been a notable addition to the coaching staff over the last few days with Jack Gauntlett joining to assist Ryan Smith in the dugout.

Wake Green Amateurs have been building some momentum over the last eighteen months and secured promotion from division three last season under manager Scott Ward. The visitors were able to keep hold of prolific striker Damien Kelly who had an incredible season in division three with 45 goals scored in all competitions.

There’s a lot of know how and experience in the squad which should help them make the step up to division two. They started the season with a win thanks to a last-minute winner against Paget Rangers before losing to Earlswood Town at the weekend.

The visitors bought along a good following for yesterday’s mid-week match which is encouraging.

Starting line ups

The starting line up for Northfield included Tom Walker starting in goal and Josh Westwood captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Jimmy Ward playing up front and being supported by Ethan Hanks and Jack O’Donnell on the wings.

There were four changes from their match against Central Ajax at the weekend with Brogan Halpin coming into the team and playing in the number ten role.

Wake Green’s starting line up included Joe Beale starting in goal and Nathan Percival captaining the team down the right-hand side. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with Damien Kelly playing up front and being supported by Mitch Mollison and Nathan Percival on the wings.

There were three changes from their match against Earlswood Town on Saturday with Lewis Best coming into the team and playing at centre back alongside Lewis Percival. 

​First Half

Wake Green settled into the match well in the early stages of the first half and looked well organised off the ball. They had a bit of physicality in the midfield with Sam Lloyd and Xavier Moore helping to track back and break up the play for the visitors.

They created a good opening when Damien Kelly found some space on the edge of the box. Dan Wells read the danger and managed to block the shot for a corner on 17 minutes.

Northfield created some decent half chances in the final third and were starting off attacks in midfield thanks to the build up play of Josh Westwood and Ashley Prince. Their best chance to take the lead came when Brogan Halpin struck an effort over the bar in the 23rd minute.

Wake Green were clinical in the box yesterday and produced a moment of quality to take the lead in the middle of the first half. Damien Kelly beat a few players down the right-hand side before squaring the ball to Josh Crampton at the back post who produced a classy finish into the bottom left corner for 1-0.

Northfield came close to responding a few minutes later when Jimmy Ward had a header at the back post go over the bar in the 26th minute.

The visitors worked tirelessly off the ball to stifle the attacking quality of Northfield in the first half. Lewis Best was brilliant at centre back and constantly cleared the ball away from danger to help Wake Green gain a foothold in the match. Kiaeem Gayle also impressed at left back and read the danger well for the Solihull side.

Northfield were pressing for an equaliser but just lacked that final ball into the box throughout the first half.

Wake Green scored on the break when Damien Kelly made a brilliant run into the box before producing a quality finish into the bottom right corner for 2-0. He’s got that pace up front to run past players and produced a moment of quality to give the visitors a two-goal lead going into the break.

Second Half

The pattern of the match continued in the early stages of the second half. Northfield had a lot of the ball but were struggling to break down a stubborn Wake Green side that were dangerous on the break.

​Damien Kelly made a well-timed run off the shoulder before running into the box and producing an instinctive finish into the bottom left corner for 3-0 on 47 minutes.

It was a great goal from Wake Green which gave Northfield a huge mountain to climb for the rest of the second half.

None the less, they kept going in search of a way back into the match and were awarded a penalty when substitute Chris Tabberner was fouled in the box. Jimmy Ward stepped up and took a spot kick that flew over the bar on 65 minutes.

One of the positives for Northfield yesterday was how the substitutes came off the bench and impressed in the second half to give Wake Green something different to think about at the back.

Chris Tabberner was making some good runs into the final third and looked a threat up front. He worked the ball into the box before having a shot go wide of the left-hand post in the 70th minute.  

Wake Green looked a threat on the break throughout the second half and came close to making it 4-0 when Nathan Percival broke free down the right before having a shot go wide of the far post in the 83rd minute.

Northfield showed some character at 3-0 down and kept going in the latter stages of the second half. Deon Colstock played a good ball to Chris Tabberner at the front post who headed wide in the 90th minute.

Brogan Halpin was sent off in stoppage time for a high tackle in the box which reduced Northfield to ten men for the final few minutes.

Substitute Dave McQuaide was alert in the box and capitalised on a loose ball before producing a quality finish into the top left corner to pull a goal back for Northfield.

The substitutions made a notable difference for Northfield in the second half. Deon Colstock found some space down the left-hand side before crossing the ball to Dave McQuaide at the back post whose header was well saved by Joe Beale.

Wake Green were able to see the second half out for a huge statement result against last season’s league champions.

Upcoming fixtures

Northfield will be looking to bounce back against Boldmere Sports and Social Falcons (Away) in the LJ cup on Saturday. Their league schedule for the rest of August includes away trips against Paget Rangers (Next Saturday), Boldmere Falcons (Bank Holiday Monday) and Bolehall Swifts (Saturday 30th August).

Wake Green Amateurs will be looking to build on this result and play Inkberrow (Away) in the LJ cup on Saturday. Their league schedule for August includes a run of home fixtures against Lane Head (Next Saturday), Birmingham United (Bank Holiday Monday) and Fairfield Villa (Saturday 30th August).               

FT score: Northfield Town 1-3 Wake Green Amateurs

Man of the match: Damien Kelly (Wake Green Amateurs)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League